'Developmental autonomy: Nepal's doctrine of statecraft'

Kathmandu, Sept. 25

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal has said that developmental autonomy is the doctrine of Nepal's statecraft.

"Developmental autonomy is not about choosing sides, it is about increasing our value across three confident, unified directions," he said while speaking at the Asia Society organised in the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly ongoing in New York. 

According to him, Nepal’s strategy centres on three directions: southward, northward and global engagement. Southward, it aims to use its open border with India, hydropower potential and Special Economic Zones to expand manufacturing, clean-energy exports and regional supply chains.

Northward, Nepal seeks to become a land-linked economy through roads, railways, dry ports, aviation and digital connectivity, alongside Himalayan cooperation on climate and disaster resilience. It also emphasises transparent financing and sovereign autonomy in cooperation with China.

Likewise, at the global level, Nepal plans deeper partnerships with the US, Europe, Japan, ASEAN and the Gulf. Its clean power, cool climate and diaspora can support digital, fintech and AI development, said FM Khanal. 

However, he said that Nepal’s future cannot be charted in isolation, so it must be written for Nepali people, but it cannot be authored by Nepalis alone. "To our partners in the United States, across Europe, throughout ASEAN, Latin America, and beyond: our doors are open, our rules are transparent, and you are warmly welcome to build alongside us," he said.

"Nepal was a civilizational bridge in the past. We are an economic bridge in our present. And we will be a strategic bridge for our future," he said.

He also informed the panel that Nepal has set a national goal of achieving middle income status in the next 10 years and high-income, developed status by 2050.

FM Khanal stressed that the recent tragedy of Bhotekoshi floods offered an unmistakable foreign-policy imperative for Nepal - treating climate change as an existential strategic priority.

"We, therefore, must focus on robust ecological cooperation: better early warning mechanisms, hydrological data-sharing, predictable grant-based climate finance, and practical collaboration with the neighbours and global community," he reiterated while adding that when a nation cannot alter its physical geography, it must summon strategic agency. 

Stating that with nearly 30 million people, Nepal has a population larger than Australia's, and if placed in the European Union, it would be its sixth-most populous member, he said Nepal's neighbours’ scale is a fact of geography, it must never become the ceiling of the country's ambition. "Nepal is not small," he said.

He also said that when the world speaks of Asia, the western imagination often races east toward Shanghai, Singapore or Tokyo. Yet South Asia is home to two billion people and some of the fastest-transforming societies on earth. Delhi, Dhaka, and Kathmandu are just as central to this resurgence.

Informing that long before modern cartography, the Kathmandu Valley was a wealthy, cosmopolitan entrepôt connecting the Gangetic plains to the Tibetan plateau, the foreign minister said, "The architectural wonders of our Durbar Squares were built by wealth generated from trans-Himalayan commerce."

 

FM holds sideline meeting with McNeill, Wong

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal discussed Nepal-UK relations with the UK’s Minister of State for International Development, Kirsty McNeill, at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly ongoing in New York.

"During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen the Nepal-UK bilateral cooperation, which has been expanding in recent times. In particular, they discussed making cooperation with the UK more effective in the recovery and reconstruction efforts following the devastating disaster that recently struck Nepal," FM Khanal's Secretariat informed.

Minister Khanal highlighted the importance of international partnerships and support as Nepal continues its post-disaster rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

Likewise, FM Khanal also held a bilateral meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

They discussed the loss of lives and property caused by the devastating floods that recently hit Nepal, as well as ongoing rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Minister Khanal expressed appreciation for international support for post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The two ministers also discussed further strengthening the friendly relations between Nepal and Australia and expanding areas of bilateral cooperation. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 26 September 2026.     

Climate justice cannot remain a phrase in document: PM Shah

Kathmandu, Sept. 25

Prime Minister Balendra Shah said at the United Nations General Assembly that those who have contributed more to the problems created by climate change, and those with greater capacity to respond, must do more.

Speaking at the Assembly ongoing at New York, on Friday morning, he said, "Climate justice cannot just remain a beautiful phrase in a United Nations Document. People of our country be allowed to build their future instead of constantly rebuilding their past."

Stating that Nepal was not at the UN to blame any country or continent, or to turn climate change into another geopolitical battlefield, he asked one and all to recommit to shared responsibility and solidarity.

PM Shah said that climate justice is not only about money but also about distributive justice - who bears the costs, and procedural justice - who has a voice.

It is about whether the future of mountain communities, small island states, landlocked and least-developed countries, and generations yet unborn count equally. "Starting tomorrow at the 'Sagarmatha to the Sea' side-event right here at the United Nations, Nepal is ready to help lead this conversation," he said.

PM Shah has reminded the UNGA that through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the international community has already agreed to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

He sought the international solidarity and support in the post-disaster rebuilding. "Nepal now faces a massive task of recovery and reconstruction. After at least 1,400 confirmed deaths and over 6,000 people still missing, our rapid assessments peg physical recovery needs at about 10 per cent of GDP," he said.

He further added, "We did not create this crisis. Yet we are paying a colossal price for it. Our glaciers are retreating. Our mountain slopes are becoming unstable. Our rivers are becoming less predictable. And every major disaster threatens to erase years of development."

For Nepal – a country that contributed less than 0.1 per cent of the global greenhouse-gas emissions, climate catastrophe is not just a humanitarian event, but a development emergency.

"The disaster destroyed roads, bridges, schools, homes, farms and livelihoods. It destroyed clean energy infrastructure that we need to fuel our future. And it forces a poor country to borrow money to repair damage it did not cause," said Prime Minister Shah.

According to him, the international system is under now and, many often, military and economic power determines whose voice is heard. In such a scenario, Nepal believed it needs a much fairer global economic order. "The weak would not simply have to accept whether the powerful decide," he said.

Referring to the devastating Bhotekoshi floods, termed as 'Himalayan Tsunami', he lamented that he couldn't simply speak about development, democracy, peace and the hopes of a young nation, instead, he was forced speak about death and destruction of epic proportions.

"It was not just a local tragedy, it was a warning to the world. And I ask you today: have we really heard that warning?" asked the prime minister while recalling the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Nepal when the latter warned humanity about the madness of an impending climate disaster.

"That cry from the rooftop of the world was not heard loudly enough. We in Nepal heard it. Our communities heard it. Scientists around the world heard it. They repeated it with evidence. But we, the political leaders of the world, have been negligent to translate those warnings into action at the speed and scale that vulnerable people require," he said. "Last month, we saw the tragic consequences."

According to him, this tells us something fundamental - Climate change does not recognize borders. Glaciers and floods do not travel with a visa stamped on passports.

Stating that the Himalayas are not peripheral to the planet but the part of the planet's life-support system, PM Shah proposed establishing a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism, led by Nepal, India and China.

He said that this mechanism will help in sharing satellite data and expertise, monitor dangerous glacial lakes, let us strengthen joint early-warning systems.

He said, "When disaster strikes, let us coordinate assistance across borders. Let the Himalayas become a laboratory of international cooperation, rather than a frontier of fragmented information."

When a climate-driven disaster destroys the infrastructure of a poor country, the answer cannot simply be another mega loan or a patchwork of small grants, maintained the prime minister.   

He stressed that Nepal needs adequate grant-based support from the world. The Loss and Damage Fund, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant financing mechanisms remain grossly inadequate.

"Climate finance must not become a bureaucratic maze through which vulnerable countries spend years proving that they need help. When the house is burning, we do not ask the family to complete fifty forms. We act," he said. "That is what climate justice must mean."

Published in The Rising Nepal on 26 September 2026.     

Nepal, Namibia establish diplomatic ties

Kathmandu, Sept. 25

Nepal and Namibia have established diplomatic relations.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, signed a joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries at a ceremony held at the United Nations headquarters on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), before the signing ceremony, the foreign ministers of the two countries held discussions on various matters of mutual interest. They also discussed the humanitarian and material losses caused by the devastating climate-related disaster – Bhotekoshi floods.

The two ministers stressed the need to explore new avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation between Nepal and Namibia and to advance collaboration for the shared progress and prosperity of the two countries and their peoples.

With the establishment of diplomatic relations with Namibia, Nepal’s diplomatic relations have expanded to 187 countries.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 26 September 2026.     

CBFIN, BNI to organise youth conference

Kathmandu, Sept. 25

The Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBIFIN) and the Nepal Business Institute (NBI) are set to organise the Nepal Youth Entrepreneurship Conference 2083 with a focus on AI, youth entrepreneurship and employment.

The two organisations signed an agreement to collaborate to organise the conference that is set to be held in Kathmandu on October 9.

CBIFIN Acting Chairman Rajesh Upadhyaya said that the conference will focus on issues including financial access, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, innovation and the use of technology to create employment.

He said the collaboration between CBIFIN and NBI would play an important role in increasing financial literacy among young entrepreneurs, promoting the use of digital banking and developing a culture of responsible borrowing. "It would also help bring innovative financial products offered by banks and financial institutions to their target groups and increase safe lending to productive sectors," said Upadhyaya.

Likewise, NBI Executive Chairman Bishal Gaire said young people should be encouraged to focus on production and employment to achieve sustainable economic development. He said issues such as policy arrangements, seed capital for start-ups and access to finance for youth-led enterprises were directly linked to banks and financial institutions, making the collaboration with CBIFIN important to make the conference more effective.

According to CBFIN, the conference is expected to bring together 400 entrepreneurs, businesspeople and stakeholders from across the country.

With the country’s external economic indicators remaining strong and liquidity adequate amid relatively low interest rates, the conference is expected to provide guidance to emerging young entrepreneurs already engaged in, or seeking to enter, entrepreneurship, start-ups, new technologies and innovative sectors.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 26 September 2026.     

E-Sewa, Citizens Bank launch loan product for PwD

Kathmandu, Sept. 25

E-Sewa, in collaboration with Citizens Bank International, has launched ‘Swabalamban Karja’, a digital lending facility designed specifically for Persons with Disabilities.

The facility launched on Friday in Lalitpur aims at making access to credit easier by reducing lengthy procedures, paperwork, and the need for physical presence, the company said in a statement.

The event was attended by representatives from eSewa, Citizens Bank International, the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal, development partner organizations, Persons with Disabilities, and the media.

Through the new product, eligible Persons with Disabilities can apply for a loan directly through the eSewa app. The facility offers loans ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 200,000, at an annual interest rate of 9.99 per cent and a processing fee of 0.75 per cent.

"Eligible users can apply by clicking on the ‘Swabalamban Karja’ banner available on the eSewa app’s home page and completing the application process," read the statement.

According to the partners in the new product, to be eligible, applicants must have a KYC-verified eSewa account, a disability identity card issued by the government, and at least six months of eSewa usage history. Applicants must also have a regular source of income through employment or business.

Loan approval will be subject to the relevant assessment and the applicable terms and conditions of the bank.

Speaking at the event, CEO of eSewa Jagdish Khadka, said that ‘Swabalamban Karja’ aims to leverage digital technology to make access to credit simpler and more convenient for Persons with Disabilities.

"It is not just a financial product, it is the beginning of a broader concept. An individual’s access to financial services should not be limited by their physical condition,” he said.

Similarly, CEO of Citizens Bank Roshan Manandhar expected Swabalamban Karja to provide a financial solution that supports their personal and economic needs.

"We had been looking for an opportunity to do something different and meaningful, and we are proud to collaborate on this initiative introduced by eSewa. I hope this initiative will help create a broader ecosystem that supports greater financial inclusion,” he said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 26 September 2026.     

FM Khanal meets Pakistani, Icelandic counterparts

Kathmandu, Sept. 24

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During the meeting, they stressed the need to further strengthen Nepal-Pakistan relations and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest. They also discussed ways to make cooperation more effective at both bilateral and multilateral levels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement.

The two sides particularly emphasised strengthening cooperation between Nepal and Pakistan at multilateral forums, including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the United Nations.

Meanwhile, FM Khanal held a side-line meeting with his Icelandic Foreign Minister Porgerour Katrin Gunnarsdottir, and exchanged views on the unprecedented economic and humanitarian losses caused by climate-related disasters.

According to the MoFA, they discussed the loss of lives and property caused by the recent devastating floods in Nepal, as well as the growing risks posed by climate change.

"The two sides stressed the need for coordinated efforts by all levels of government and all sections of society for timely recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction following disasters," it said.

They shared the view that the entire government and social mechanisms should be mobilised to provide prompt relief to disaster-affected communities and advance long-term reconstruction efforts. The two foreign ministers also emphasised the need to further strengthen global solidarity and international cooperation to address the growing risks of climate change, capacity constraints and limited resources.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 25 September 2026.     

'Climate action: Not charity but justice'

Kathmandu, Sept. 24

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has warned that failure to respond to the climate crisis with urgency and seriousness could lead to even greater risks in the future. “Climate action should be treated not as charity, but as justice,” he said in his address to a high-level meeting on climate action and a just transition at the United Nations headquarters on Wednesday.

Stating that fragmented, uncertain and delayed assistance would make it difficult for climate-vulnerable countries to cope with the current crisis, Minister Khanal called on the international community to make a decisive shift from climate commitments to implementation to address the crises caused by climate change.

Calling for a fundamental shift from commitments to implementation, Minister Khanal said climate finance should be adequate, predictable and readily accessible to communities before disasters occur, rather than relying primarily on assistance after disasters strike.

He stressed the need to prioritise climate adaptation, making clear that for countries such as Nepal, adaptation was not an option but a basis for survival.

FM Khanal called for greater investment in universal access to global early-warning systems, reliable technologies suited to mountain ecosystems, climate information services and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Likewise, he further stressed the need to adequately capitalise the Loss and Damage Fund and make it faster, simpler and more accessible. He also said that multilateral development banks should be able to mobilise rapid and affordable finance during disasters.

Highlighting the need for an integrated approach to addressing climate-change impacts from the mountains to the oceans, he called for stronger global efforts to keep the goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C within reach.

“This is an issue linked to the survival of mountain and coastal communities,” he said.

Referring to the devastating floods that recently struck Nepal, Minister Khanal said the country had suffered significant human and physical losses, with hundreds of people losing their lives and extensive damage caused to homes, infrastructure, agriculture and livelihoods.

Hydropower infrastructure had also suffered serious damage and that development gains achieved through decades of effort had been set back. According to preliminary assessments, Nepal has suffered losses of more than US$5 billion, equivalent to around 15 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, from recent climate-related disasters, said FM Khanal.

“Nepal did not create this crisis. Nepal’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is less than 0.1 per cent. Yet Nepal is experiencing its impacts disproportionately and repeatedly,” Minister Khanal said.

He said climate-related disasters had become not merely a humanitarian emergency for Nepal, but also a development emergency, a crisis of justice and a serious challenge linked to the survival of communities and future generations.

Recalling the United Nations Secretary-General’s call three years ago from the foothills of Everest to 'stop the madness', he said the warning that the mountains were 'crying out' for help was grounded in science. He said an important question now was whether the international community had listened to that warning with sufficient seriousness, prudence and determination.

“What happens in the Himalayas does not remain confined to the Himalayas. The Himalayas are an integral part of the Earth’s life-support system,” he said.

 

'Collective initiatives to ensure climate justice'

Speaking at the leaders’ meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UNGA, FM Khanal said stronger cooperation between mountainous countries and small island developing states is necessary to amplify the common voice of countries vulnerable to climate change.

Commending Barbados Prime Minister and CVF Chair Mia Amor Mottley for her leadership, Minister Khanal thanked Barbados for effectively raising the concerns of climate-vulnerable countries on the global stage.

“Geographically, Barbados and Nepal are located in two very different parts of the world - one an island nation surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the other a landlocked mountainous country with the world’s highest peaks,” he said. “Yet, from ecological and existential perspectives, our futures are intrinsically connected.”

Stating that Nepal remained committed to nature-positive economic development, its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, Minister Khanal said the international development system needed to be restructured in five key areas.

As the first priority, he called for accelerating climate-resilient development, saying every infrastructure investment, from transport infrastructure to community-based water supply systems, should be made capable of withstanding climate risks. He said Nepal welcomed the operation of the Lifeline Fund, which provides rapid financial resources when climate-related disasters create severe balance-of-payments pressures.

As the second priority, he called for reforms to the development finance system, stressing that climate-related disasters should not turn into debt crises. Supporting the Bridgetown Initiative and the Vulnerability to Viability Compact advanced under Prime Minister Mottley’s leadership, he called for expanded concessional and grant-based financing and more effective provisions for debt-payment suspension.

As the third priority, he called for greater investment in science-based forecasting and early-warning systems. He said impact-based early-warning systems, real-time satellite data and cross-border data sharing should be expanded from mountain glaciers to the oceans.

As the fourth priority, he stressed the need to accelerate the green and digital transition, saying a just transition from fossil fuels to clean energy was necessary. He said Nepal was ready to contribute to the region’s green transition by expanding clean hydropower and regional electricity transmission networks, adding that this could create new opportunities for young people in the digital economy.

As the fifth priority, FM Khanal stressed the need to make financial support for loss and damage more effective. He called for new and additional grant-based resources for the Loss and Damage Fund. “It is not appropriate to address the suffering caused by disasters through repackaged commercial loans under the Loss and Damage Fund,” he said.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 25 September 2026.