Submit your Article

Ashraf Shikhaliyev is the ambassador of Azerbaijan to India. He also holds concurrent accreditation to Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Shikhaliyev was in Kathmandu last week to attend Nepal Infrastructure Summit 2022. Kamal Dev Bhattarai caught up with him to talk about the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Nepal and possible areas of cooperation between the two countries. How do you evaluate Nepal-Azerbaijan relations?  Relations between the two countries are developing mainly in international and multilateral forums. In the United Nations, we have excellent relations. Nepal is a founding member of the non-alignment movement and Azerbaijan is the current chair of this movement. So, we have excellent cooperation in our delegations and other areas.  On the bilateral front, we have good relations that we need to build on further. We need to expand economic cooperation, for example. Both countries are land-locked and depend on transit countries. That is why for landlocked countries like ours cooperation in the areas of information communication technology is important. In these areas, borders do not matter and we can do cooperation. We can cooperate particularly in the areas of electronic governance. This is an era of digitalization and every country is paying attention to building infrastructure for it. We have made some achievements in Azerbaijan, and we are willing to share them with Nepal if they are interested. What is the current state of trade relationship between the two countries?  The economic collaboration between the two countries is very minimal. This is because of geography. The two countries are land-locked and there is a huge distance separating them. But we have to start with something. The realistic sector where we can collaborate is information and communication technologies, and e-governance. Nepal needs investment to develop its infrastructure, are there any prospects of cooperation from Azerbaijan?  As I said, we can begin with cooperation in the area of information technology first. We can then move on to infrastructure development. Azerbaijan has many good companies with vast experience in big infrastructure projects, such as building large international airports. Those companies can come to Nepal for the development of infrastructure. Development of infrastructure is important for every country and Azerbaijan is keen to contribute to the development of infrastructure in Nepal. Could you share with us about the ASAN service of your country that won the United Nations award?  State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations known as ASAN is a brand name in Azerbaijan, which we are extremely proud of. This is implemented under the president of our country. The basic concept of this project is to make the life of people easier in service delivery. ASAN service was created in 2012 and three years later, it won the United the best service award from the United Nations. The project was picked from among 800 nominees from all over the world. It has been lauded for its transparency, making service convenient to all, and for its role in combating corruption. People are fully satisfied with the service. The project united our 10 ministries as well as some private companies to provide services under the umbrella of ASAN. Every service it offers is transparent and quick. There are volunteers who check the quality of service and they assist the people. For example, if you need to renew your license, the process does not take more than 10 minutes. Acquiring a passport, getting a visa or any other services are also equally swift and easy. Can Azerbaijan assist Nepal to launch such a project? We are ready to share our experiences with Nepal to create a similar project in Nepal. In 2019, the ASAN delegation visited Nepal and made their presentations. In 2020, we shared a draft of a Memorandum of Understanding proposing to work together in this area with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But we did not hear anything from the Nepali side. We are always willing to share our experiences and assist Nepal.

As Nepal qualifies for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2022 semi-final [for the fifth consecutive time], Anita Basnet proves to be a key element of Nepal’s attacking force. She has come a long way from her debut in 2014 vs Pakistan, to a senior and almost irreplaceable figure in the side. I sat down with the 28-year-old midfielder for a candid conversation. Here’s what she had to say.  Can you describe how it feels to represent Nepal? When I first played for the U-14 national side, I was a child and couldn’t even imagine how [significant] it would feel to wear the national colors. But when I put that jersey on, it felt incredible. I was really emotional on that particular day. What is your favorite position to play on the field? I started playing as a striker and now I enjoy playing in midfield. I often wonder if midfielders enjoy scoring goals more or assisting them. Many of them have the clinical skillset to get on the scoresheet. Basnet certainly does. But not everyone has the selfless mindset to set it up for someone else. So, I had to ask: Do you enjoy scoring or assisting them more? Scoring goals is more important to win games for the team, so scoring is the priority. But if my assists help the team score a goal and contribute to the team, then I’m satisfied. Basnet mentions that she doesn’t have hobbies outside football because that is all she has known since childhood. She likes watching Brazil at the World Cups, while on an individual basis, enjoys the way Paulo Dybala plays.  Basnet and Sabitra Bhandari were the first women from Nepal to play abroad, in India. They played for Sethu FC in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) wearing jersey number 10 and 9 respectively. How was the IWL experience for you? I got to play on an international platform for the first time coming from Nepal. Bala Devi, Ashalata Devi, Ratanbala, Sweety, Grace–I got to play with or against all the senior Indian players, and learnt a lot from them. When we play international matches, we are opponents, but through the IWL, I got to learn their strategies and brought some of those things back to my Nepal teammates. What is your main aim going forward? First, I want to win a gold medal with the Nepal team. We haven’t won a gold medal yet, so that is the aim of my career. Further on, it may be in football or not. I will see when it comes to that. Will the gold medal be in this SAFF Women’s Championship edition? We don’t think any team is weaker than us. Every team we face is tough, but we expect a gold medal this time. We have worked hard, so let’s see how it goes. There were 2,000+ people in the stands for the opening match, did you feel their energy? Obviously, it’s a good feeling to play in front of your home crowd. The number was smaller than we expected, but we were happy to see at least 2,000+ turn up for the game. The last edition of SAFF, the final, had a sell-out crowd. Can we repeat that? We have always had a huge crowd wherever we play. We had a great crowd in Biratnagar for SAFF 2019 and Pokhara for the South Asian Games 2019 (both finals had India as opponents and a 10,000+ crowd). We expect a very good crowd at Dasharath Stadium as it is one of our few international stadiums. We are keen to see more love from the audience in this tournament. Everyone in Nepal seems to love football. Has that love been inculcated in you from a young age? We don’t have a strong grassroots system, and we don’t play in many domestic matches, but our age groups still have gifted players. Many young players love and strive to play for their country. The number is huge. It’s an easy sport to understand and pick up, maybe because they think it’s only about scoring goals. Everyone finds it fun to experience scoring goals, so it’s appealing.  You are so soft-spoken in person, is that your nature? I’m naturally like this. On the field, I try to stay normal but a little aggressive side automatically comes out. Who is your inspiration? My family is, first and foremost, my biggest inspiration. Without the help of my family, I could not be where I am now. They deserve all the credit. Nobody in my family is involved in football or any other sport, but because I was interested in it, they encouraged me to play outdoors from a young age. Tehrathum, in northeastern Nepal, where I come from, doesn’t even have a district football association. Coming from such a remote place, they are very proud of me. I was known by my father’s name before, but now they all know me as a player. It makes me very proud. I’m very grateful for the support of my family. A message to Nepal to come and support the team at Dasharath Stadium?  You have always had our backs. We are here only because you support us on the pitch. You have supported us passionately in the past, but we still need you here more than ever. So, I’d like you to come and support us for it would mean a lot and give us an extra boost of strength. Basnet’s message was pretty clear. The players feed off the crowd’s energy. The tickets start at Rs 300 and I hope Kathmandu locals head to Dasharath Stadium to support this group of talented and inspiring individuals. Nepal has made it to the semi-final, and she has played every minute so far. The aim ahead? Gold.   Special mention to Manila Kafle and Sandesh Sidgel for assisting with the translation Twitter: @radhalathgupta

Preparations are underway to finalize the key agenda that Nepal flags in COP27. Government is holding consultations with key stakeholders to finalize those agendas. In this context, The Annapurna Express talked Madhav Karki, Climate Change and Environment advisor to the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on the government’s climate priority.  What role do you play as an advisor to the prime minister on climate change and environment? My main role is to advise the prime minister on the following aspects: a) Effective coordination among agencies working on Environment Protection and Climate Change; b) Assess the effectiveness of the current institutional arrangements to tackle country’s growing environment and climate change problems and challenges; c) Help the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) to implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) at all tires of government; and d) Help improve the health ecosystem to increase the sustained production of ecosystem goods, services and the capacity of vulnerable communities. What are the priorities of the government regarding the climate change issues for the upcoming COP27?  The main priorities are: a) Secure 50 percent of the committed climate finance for adaptation and push for a decision on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA); b) Reduce the mitigation ambition gap by calling upon developed countries; c) Secure inclusion of the loss and damage and agreement on the operationalization of the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage (SNLD) by receiving commitment for its permanent Secretariat and dedicated funding; d) Secure 50 percent finance for adaptation out of the $100bn annual climate change finance committed by the developed country by 2023; and e) Champion the cause of mountains by promoting mountain agenda at various forums of the COP27 as a part of highlighting the disproportionate impact vulnerable countries are facing due to global climate change.  Besides, Nepal also needs to call for transparency and accountability in stepped-up climate change funding especially to the most vulnerable and least developed countries to support adaptation, capacity building and technology transfer.           What are the major tasks of the government regarding the impact of climate change issues? The government is engaged in completing a number of tasks to implement the Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). As a priority, we are strengthening the institutional mechanism to manage climate change by operationalizing the long pending apex body of Environment Protection and Climate Change Management National Council chaired by the prime minister. Under the MoFE, following tasks are being carried out: a) Remain carbon negative between 2030 to 2045 and from 2045, achieve the target of Net Zero Emission by 2045. It was committed by the incumbent prime minister at COP26; b) By 2045, maintain 45 percent forest of the total area of the country (including other wooded land limited to less than four percent green cover); c) By 2030, manage 50 percent of Tarai and Inner Tarai forests and 25 percent of middle hills and mountain forests sustainably, through REDD+ initiatives; d) Ensure forests under community-based management will comprise at least 60 percent of forest area; e) By 2030, upgrade watershed health and vitality in at least 20 districts to a higher condition category; f) By 2030, all 753 local governments will prepare and implement climate-resilient and gender-responsive adaptation plans. The plans will address climate change, disaster vulnerability and risks as well as prioritize adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management measures focusing on women, persons with disability, children, senior citizens, youth, indigenous people, economically deprived communities and people residing in climate-vulnerable geographical areas; and g) The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) will be updated in every ten years and a national level Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) exercise will be carried out in every five years to influence and inform climate finance resource allocation decisions. Why does the MoFE only change the climate-related policy?  However, there should be multiple stakeholders linked for cross-cutting issues. When will the government bring such policies? Or are there any specific plans to fight against climate change issues through joint efforts? As the current Climate Change Policy of the government is to mainstream climate change management in all sectoral policies, plans and programs at the all levels of government, following plans have been introduced for a joint, integrated and holistic approach: Under agriculture sector

• By 2030, soil organic matter content of agriculture land will reach to 3.95 percent
• By 2030, the number of organic fertilizer production plants in the country will reach 100
• Integrate climate change in the upcoming revised Agriculture Policy;
• By 2025, update the Rangeland Policy and develop plans for the sustainable management of rangelands
• By 2030, establish 200 climate-smart villages and 500 climate-smart farms.

• By 2025, climate-sensitive diseases surveillance systems will be strengthened through the integration of climate and weather information into existing surveillance systems

• Public Weather Services (PWS), including the Agro-Meteorological Information System, will be strengthened and established
• By 2030, a multi-hazard monitoring and early warning system covering all the provinces will be established
• By 2025, a national strategy and action plan on Loss and Damage (L&D) associated with climate change impacts will be devised

• By 2030, expand clean energy generation from approximately 1,400MW to 15,000MW, of which 5-10 percent will be generated from mini and micro-hydro power, solar, wind and bio-energy. Of this, 5,000 MW is an unconditional target. The remainder is dependent upon the provision of funding by the international community
• By 2030, ensure 15 percent of the total energy demand is supplied from clean energy sources
• By 2030, ensure 25 percent of households use electric stoves as their primary mode of cooking
• By 2025, install 500,000 improved cook stoves, specifically in rural areas
• By 2025, install an additional 200,000 household biogas plants and 500 large scale biogas plants (institutional/industrial/ municipal/community)
• By 2030, increase the reliable supply of clean energy, ensuring access to all
• Increase the quantity (kWh), quality, reliability, and affordability of electricity access from renewable sources
• Strengthen transmission and distribution links to support upscaling of e-cooking, e-heating, e-transport and charging stations

• Adopt national building codes and prepare Integrated Urban Development Plans (IUDPs) emphasizing low carbon and climate-resilient urban settlements in all municipalities
• By 2025, revise the urban environment management guidelines to incorporate activities related to promoting low carbon and climate resilient urban settlements.

• By 2030, create an enabling environment for both public and private sector to treat industrial and municipal waste, including fecal sludge
• By 2030, adopt and implement waste segregation, recycling and waste-to-energy programs in at least 100 municipalities
• By 2030, the burning of healthcare waste in 1,400 healthcare facilities will be prohibited by proper management of healthcare waste through the application of non-burn technologies
• Promote the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach to waste management, along with source segregation and management of degradable and non-degradable waste
• Focus on co-production of energy and organic fertilizer from solid waste, wastewater and fecal sludge

• By 2025, formulate and implement nature-based tourism plans in at least five main tourist destinations
• By 2030, ensure at least five tourist destinations are carbon neutral
• By 2030, including measures in policies to offset the carbon footprint of emissions resulting from tourism transport

• Sales of electric vehicles (e-vehicles) in 2025 will be 25 percent of all private passenger vehicles sales, including two-wheelers and 20 percent of all four-wheeler public passenger vehicle sales (this public passenger target does not take into account electric rickshaws and electric-tempos) in 2025. Due to this e-vehicle sales target, fossil fuel energy demand for the transportation sector will decrease from approximately 40m GJ in the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario in 2025 to 36m GJ. This would be around a nine percent decrease in fossil fuel dependency. This target will reduce emissions from a projected BAU of 2,988 Gg CO2eq. in 2030 to 2,619 Gg CO2 eq., which is around 28 percent decrease in emissions
• By 2030, develop 200 km of the electric rail network to support public commuting and mass transportation of goods.

Don McLain Gill is a Philippines-based geopolitical analyst and author specializing in Indo-Pacific affairs and Indian and Philippine foreign policy. Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx talked to him about India-China and the US-China relations, and how they are affecting the small countries in the Indo-Pacific region. How do you see the current state of India-China relations? India and China continue to have troubled bilateral relations, primarily due to the intensifying tension with respect to the border, and the dynamic security architecture in the Indian Ocean region. While there have been several meetings between Chinese and Indian senior officials, indicating possible improvement in bilateral relations, the reality on the ground still paints a relatively pessimistic picture. Talks are ongoing for the disengagement in the Line of Actual Control (LAC), but China has continued with the development of critical infrastructure close to the LAC. This suggests that Beijing lacks the capacity to follow through with an agreement. China has repeatedly gone against a series of bilateral agreements and confidence-building measures. The words of Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar resonated quite profoundly when he said, something to the effect of, the state of the border will determine the state of India-China relations. Until both states do not substantially improve their relationship, the future of Asia’s security architecture remains in peril. How do you evaluate South Asian countries’ engagement with China, particularly on BRI?  China’s ability to sustain a robust military presence in the Indian Ocean region and South Asia, in particular, is still constrained. To build its image as a major development and economic partner in the region, China began engaging with various South Asian countries through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Sri Lanka, for example, received billions of dollars worth of Chinese investments. But as the economic crisis unfolded in Sri Lanka, it became clear how deeply the country is indebted to China. Some estimates suggest China accounts for 10 percent of Sri Lanka’s total debt, others say it could be as large as 20 percent.  Despite this, China remained reluctant to restructure Sri Lanka’s loans in the face of Colombo’s repeated requests. The Sri Lanka crisis has shown that Beijing is not only an insufficient provider of economic growth and development but, with its hesitant response, also an unreliable comrade in case of economic distress. Does this mean China’s influence is waning in the region? The situation like in Sri Lanka is a challenge for China’s long-time efforts to cultivate the image of a responsible power, given its desire to incorporate as many states as possible into the BRI. Two other major recipients of Chinese loans in the region, Pakistan and Nepal, may also be treading a similar path. If that happens, China’s plan could backfire. Then again, without a robust and practical alternative to the BRI, despite a series of pushbacks, smaller states in the region will have no choice but to continue engaging with the available option, which is China. What is your view on the US-China contest in the Indo-Pacific region? The power competition between the US and China is much more than material power. It is a combination of both material power and perception. While shifts in the distribution of power is a normal phenomenon in international affairs, the divergences in perceptions between established and rising great powers make all the difference. Being the chief architect of the established international rules-based order, the US continues to seek its preservation. China, meanwhile, is rising with the desire to alter and reshape the rules of engagement in the Eastern Hemisphere. With concepts such as the Global Security Initiative, China seeks to exclude extra-regional powers and the traditional US-led alliance network. And with Washington's material decline and diminishing influence in the Indo-Pacific, it has to bank on other like-minded major powers like Japan and India to maintain the status-quo. However, the role of geography and asymmetric economic interdependence continue to complicate the security environment at the peril of developing states. As China continues to grow, more turbulence can be expected in the context of the brewing power competition. South Asian countries are feeling the heat of deepening US-China rivalry. What are your suggestions for smaller countries in the conduct of their foreing policy ? Smaller countries play a pivotal role in the strategic equation of major powers. However, instead of reacting to the structural shifts, they must leverage on their strategic positions by maintaining their centrality rather than being dragged deeper into major power competition. Small states must be able to provide major powers with a less ambiguous roadmap of engagement without fearing the loss of support from either state. This does not mean that small states should seek to disturb the balance. Rather, they should aim to maintain the status quo without further exacerbating the balance of power. This will provide them with a more conducive environment for growth, development, and security.