PM Shah's address to UNGA historic, says FM Khanal

Kathmandu, Sept. 30

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has said that the address, delivered by Prime Minister Balendra Shah at the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly, is expected to mark an important step towards turning climate justice into a reality for climate-vulnerable countries such as Nepal.  

Talking to journalists upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday morning, he said that PM's strong call to the international community to simplify and facilitate the mobilisation of resources through climate finance mechanisms, such as the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), and to translate climate justice into practice has drawn global attention.

He termed PM Shah's address 'historic in many respects' as he highlighted fundamental aspects of Nepal’s national interests, including climate justice. PM Shah had addressed the UNGA on September 24. He also held meetings with the Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese.

According to FM Khanal, Nepal’s participation in the 81st session of the UNGA has enhanced Nepal’s diplomatic profile and that the international community had responded positively to Nepal’s proposals.

More than 33 bilateral meetings held by the Nepali delegation had also contributed to further strengthening Nepal’s relations with the countries concerned. The Foreign Minister expressed confidence that a clear foundation had been laid for further strengthening Nepal’s diplomacy and making a tangible contribution to promoting the national interest in the days ahead.

"Nepal had strongly raised issues including climate justice before the international community. During the General Assembly, Nepal had clearly and firmly presented its position on the devastating Bhotekoshi flood as well as other national and international issues," he said.

He stated that there was an urgent need to present, at the highest level and on the global stage, Nepal’s perspective on the country’s historic political transformation, the changing global order and international issues, and, most importantly, the issue of climate justice following the devastating Bhotekoshi flood.

In his bilateral sideline meetings and other addresses, FM Khanal expressed gratitude to the countries and institutions who supported in the rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of the floods and urged for additional support in the reconstruction and recovery efforts.

Nepal organised a high-level meeting on 'Sagarmatha to the Sea: A call to action for climate-resilient future' to highlight the future of Himalayas and plight of countries being affected by the climate change and global warming.

FM Khanal said that Nepali delegation, led by him, participated in more than 80 meetings, seminars and events and presented Nepal's agenda and issues. He also participated in the reception organised by US President Donald J. Trump.

The Foreign Minister also raised the issues of the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and implementation of Paris Agreement. "At the Secretary-General’s High-Level Meeting on Climate Action and Just Transition: Solutions Dialogue, I presented Nepal’s views on the impacts of climate change, climate finance, adaptation support and resilient development," he said.

Speaking at the meeting, he had stressed the need to move towards results-oriented implementation through accessible climate finance, adequate adaptation measures, early warning systems, easier access to technology and a well-resourced loss and damage fund. I also emphasised the need to strengthen global cooperation and solidarity to achieve the 1.5°C target under the Paris Agreement.

Similarly, while addressing the G7 Development Ministers’ Meeting and the Leaders’ Meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF-V20), he emphasised that climate-related disasters are eroding development gains.

He talked about the need for stronger global cooperation, including among mountain and archipelagic countries, to advance climate justice through resilient development, accessible climate finance, robust forecasting and early warning systems, and green approaches.

During the UNGA, Nepal signed separate Joint Communiqués establishing diplomatic relations with Grenada, Namibia and Senegal. With these new diplomatic ties, the number of countries with which Nepal has established diplomatic relations has now reached 188.

Similarly, during bilateral meetings with Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric and Belarus’s Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, agreements were signed respectively on a General Cooperation Agreement, a Bilateral Consultations Mechanism, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.

 Published in The Rising Nepal on 1 October 2026.