Participation of Nepali Delegation in UNGA81 (Day 5)

Press Release

Day 5

Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Balendra Shah, along with his entourage, departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, for Kathmandu via Doha this morning. His Excellency Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN in New York, Mr. Sharad Raj Aran, CDA a.i. of the Embassy of Nepal in Washington D.C. and Mr. Dadhiram Bhandari, Consul General of Nepal in New York and other Mission officials saw off Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Shah at JFK International Airport.

Hon. Foreign Minister Mr. Shisir Khanal addressed the High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response at UNHQ. He highlighted how Nepal strengthened disease surveillance, health laboratories, and rapid-response capacity with the support from the Pandemic Fund and underscored completing the Pandemic Agreement to ensure timely and affordable access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments; financing preparedness as a global public good; and protecting migrant workers during health emergencies.

Delivering his keynote speech at Nepal’s High-Level Special Event “Sagarmatha to the Sea: A Call to Action for a Climate-Resilient Future”, the Foreign Minister stated that science, policy and investment must recognize the mountain-to-ocean continuum, while giving mountains greater prominence in climate action and keeping 1.5°C within reach. He further added that developing countries need stronger preparedness, resilient infrastructure and scientific cooperation, backed by predictable and accessible climate finance, technology, capacity-building and a well-resourced Loss and Damage Fund.

The President of the General Assembly Dr. Khalilur Rahman; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Tajikistan H.E. Sirojiddin Muhriddin; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Maldives Ms. Iruthisham Adam; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Zheenbek Kulubaev; UNESCAP Executive Secretary Ms.  Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana; Deputy Secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand Ms. Gabrielle Rush; Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific (UNDP) Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, Ambassadors and other representatives delivered their remarks, sharing their national experiences and emphasizing the need of finance, technology, knowledge-sharing and partnerships for climate action.

In his concluding remarks, Foreign Secretary Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai called for accessible climate finance for climate vulnerable nations, stronger early warning and early action, and systematic integration of climate risks into development and disaster-risk planning. He also stressed stronger regional and international cooperation, solidarity and climate diplomacy to advance collective climate commitments.

At the High-Level Meeting on Global Development Initiative hosted by China, the Foreign Minister Mr. Khanal highlighted the GDI’s growing role in mobilizing partnerships, resources, knowledge and practical South-South cooperation to accelerate SDG delivery and build resilient, sustainable development. He also recognized growing GDI engagement with the UN system to better align cooperation with the SDGs and national priorities in a final stretch to 2030.

Speaking at the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Group of 77 and China, Hon. Mr. Khanal stressed the need to renew solidarity and collective action to strengthen multilateralism, amplify the voice of the Global South, and advance a fairer and more inclusive world order.

He underscored strengthening the UN-centric rules-based multilateral; accelerating SDG action through adequate and affordable financing, technology transfer and capacity-building; and bridging inequalities through economic, digital transformation.

Hon. Foreign Minister Mr. Shisir Khanal and H.E. Mr. Cheikh NIANG, Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese abroad of the Republic of Senegal, signed a Joint Communiqué today, establishing diplomatic relations between Nepal and Senegal. On the occasion, the Ministers exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest and underscored the importance of further expanding bilateral relations in the shared progress and prosperity of the two countries and peoples.

With this, the number of countries with which Nepal has diplomatic relations has reached 188.  

Hon. Foreign Minister Mr. Shisir Khanal and H.E. Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda signed “General Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda, on behalf of their respective Governments at the Mission today. In a brief meeting, both the Foreign Ministers shared views on intensifying impacts of climate change on people’s lives, livelihood and critical infrastructure including the devastating floods in Nepal and expressed their commitment to further strengthen steadily growing bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest.

Likewise, Hon. Foreign Minister Mr. Shisir Khanal and H.E. Marko Djuric, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia on the Establishment of a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism in New York. Both the dignitaries expressed happiness over the signing of this important instrument and held fruitful discussions on various aspects of close and cooperative bilateral relations.

The Foreign Minister Mr. Khanal held bilateral meetings with H.E. Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia; H.E. Ms. Oana-Silvia Toiu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania; H.E. Mr. Volker Turk, High Commissioner for Human Rights; and H.E. Mr. Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support and discussed pertinent matters of mutual interest.

Later in the evening, the Foreign Minister addressed an interaction programme with Nepali Diasporas organized by the Consulate General of Nepal in New York and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to catering effective, efficient and people-centric public service delivery.

Permanent Mission of Nepal to UN

New York

25 September 2026