Wednesday, November 5, 2025

President Paudel to leave for Doha for Social Development Summit

Kathmandu, Oct. 31

President Ramchandra Paudel is leaving for Qatar on November 3 to attend the Second World Summit for Social Development. The summit is due to be held in Doha from November 4-6.

The President was invited by Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. The first summit on this theme was held in 1995 in Copenhagen, which was attended by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Adhikari.

During the visit, the President will address the Plenary Meetings and the High-level Roundtable of the summit on November 4, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Amrit Bahadur Rai said at a press conference organised at the Ministry on Friday.

President Paudel is scheduled to hold a meeting with Amir Al-Thani. On the sidelines of the Summit, he will also meet some world leaders attending the event, including the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.

The United Nations said that the summit aims to address the gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action and its implementation, and give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

According to the UN, building on the 10 Commitments of the 1995 Summit and the Copenhagen Declaration, the Second Summit will accelerate action on poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, and social inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. “It aims to address persistent gaps, reaffirm global commitment to social development, and give new momentum to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” read a statement on UN’s website.

In Doha, world leaders will come together to redefine strategies for social progress, strengthen global partnerships, and promote inclusive policies that foster equitable opportunities for all. The goal of the summit is to build societies that are more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.

“These issues are crucial for Nepal’s development and progress as well while also being a part of the national policy. As the chair of the group of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and set to graduate to the ‘developing status’ next year, this summit holds importance for Nepal,” said Secretary Rai.

According to him, issues of economic inequality and changed demographic structure and ways to address them will be the priority of the summit.

Nepal is also a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC).

President Paudel will be accompanied by his spouse Sabita Paudel, Communication Expert to the President, Kiran Kumar Pokharel, Secretary of the Office of the President and other senior government officials. The delegation will include 12 members.

The President and the delegation will return to Kathmandu on November 6.

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 November 2025.     

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