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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday addressed the second Voice of Global South Summit organized by India.  Addressing the session, PM Dahal said that the world is facing unprecedented crises generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and deepening geo-political complexities. They have impacts on food and nutrition, health and education, economy and environment, and peace and security, he said.  More than 125 countries from the Global South attended the Summit. 

Developing countries especially the LDCs are the most affected ones by these crises. Rising food and energy prices, tightening financial conditions, and persistent cycles of vulnerabilities continue to add to their worries, PM Dahal said, many countries of the Global South are under unsustainable debt burden which is straining investments in health, education, social justice, and other pressing national priorities. 

We believe that in order to address the challenges facing the world, the international community must focus on common goals of peace, progress and prosperity. For this, building of trust, promoting partnership and collaboration and working in solidarity remain crucial, PM Dahal said.  We need to champion inclusive and sustainable global growth, in which the Global South receives a fair share to eradicate poverty and give their people a decent life, PM Dahal said, that Nepal remains steadfast in its commitment to multilateralism with the United Nations at the center.

Nonetheless, we believe that the existing global governance architecture needs a timely reform to make it relevant and reflective of today’s realities. At the same time, reform of the international financial architecture should be a top priority with full consideration to the voice of the countries in special situations, including LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, PM Dahal said. 

“Climate change remains a grave threat to humanity. Climate-vulnerable countries like Nepal have been bearing the burden of climate change. The effect of climate change on the Himalayas has posed a severe threat to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people living in our region. We all must commit ourselves to achieving the set ambitions in a time-bound manner.” 

PM Dahal further said that Nepal is graduating from the LDC status by 2026 and we are committed to making this process smooth, sustainable, and irreversible.  Sustainable Development Goals remain at the center of our development vision and priorities with integration into national policies and plans. But even the progress that we achieved so far has been threatened by the multitude of global crises, he said.  “Hence, we have been calling for an enhanced level of international support from our partners such as development assistance, FDI, trade facilitation, technology transfer and technical assistance. The South-South cooperation should also be forthcoming to lifting the neediest countries.” 

Addressing the Summit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Global South wants its autonomy and it is ready to take up greater responsibility in global matters. The Indian PM said that Global South wants its voice in global governance.  “Geographically, the Global South has always existed, but it is getting a voice for the first time, and this is because of joint efforts. We are more than 100 countries but our priorities are similar,” he said.   He also spoke of the 5 ‘Cs’, a commitment to which would power the growth of these countries.  The 5 ‘Cs’ are “consultation, cooperation, communication, creativity and capacity building”. 

The foreign ministers’ session deliberated on major global agendas, including climate change, energy transition, technological transformation, and restoring trust in multilateralism. Addressing the Summit, S Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India, said India took over its G20 Presidency in the backdrop of a very challenging global, and in its Presidency, India’s anchor was the Global South.  Its voices inspired our priorities, fueled our efforts, and galvanized a path-breaking consensus, he said.  

Recognizing our shared past, the Global South will continue to make efforts for One Earth and to strengthen the voices of the developing countries, the Indian minister said, as one family, the Global South will continue to act with everyone’s interests in mind and drive transformation and building synergies.  

In the Summit, India has announced some initiatives. One of them is the Global South Centre of Excellence which will work as a think tank and will also work as a repository of knowledge and development initiatives in order to interface with the Global South and seek ways to forge collaboration with countries in this region.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is to address the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit today.

The PM will address the Summit, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by virtual means, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Heads of Government of various countries, including PM Modi, are scheduled to address the Summit. The theme of the Summit is - “Global South: Together for One Future”.

The government has warned of taking action against those found using TikTok in an illegal way.

A Cabinet meeting held on November 13 had decided to ban the social media app in Nepal over what it says is disturbing “social harmony”.

However, even after four days of the government's decision, TikTok has not been totally banned in Nepal.

People are found using TikTok through VPN easily.

Some internet service provider companies have supported the government’s move to ban TikTok.

The concerned organizations have even protested the government’s decision to ban TikTok, which has been very popular in recent times.

But, various political and social figures have said that it is the good job of the government to ban TikTok in Nepal.

Nepal Telecommunication Authority Director and spokesperson Santosh Paudel said that the authority has already started an initiative to ban TikTok.

“In order to implement the government’s decision, the authority has directed all the concerned internet and mobile service providers by using the rights given by Telecommunications Act 2053 (15),” he said.

Nepal Police spokesperson Kuber Kadayat said that personal details will not be secured if people use TikTok by downloading illegal apps.

He claimed that action would be taken against those found using TikTok by downloading illegal apps.

The government’s move to ban TikTok has drawn mixed reactions from the people.

Amid the geopolitical tumult, American President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a historic talk that focused on a wide range of international, regional, and bilateral issues. The two major powers held talks at a time when the crisis in the Middle East was escalating and the Russia-Ukraine war continued.  

According to the Voice of America report, Biden and Xi have agreement on some vital issues. Xi agreed to help curb the production of the illicit fentanyl that is a deadly component of drugs sold in the United States. The two leaders have agreed to resume high-level military communications; China had severed the military hotline after then US speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022. The relationship was further soured after the US accused China of sending a spy balloon in its airspace.

In the conversation, Joe Biden said their discussion was straightforward and frank, and I have always appreciated them. A readout from White House said: “We have not always agreed, which was not a surprise to anyone, but our meetings have always been candid, straightforward, and useful.”  I value our conversation because I think it is paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication, Biden said, we have to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict, and we also have to manage it responsibly—that competition.

Regarding the understanding between two countries to resume military communication, Biden said: “We are back to direct, open, clear and direct communication.” The American President characterized the talks as some of the most constructive and productive discussions they have had. But Biden said that he still considers Xi as a dictator which is likely to annoy Beijing. He said: “Well, look, he is a dictator in the sense that he is a guy who runs a country that is a community country that is based on a form of government totally different from ours.”

President Biden reiterated the US One China policy in the meeting with Xi. "I reiterated what I have said since I have become president, and what every previous president of late has said: That we maintain an agreement that there is One China Policy." 

According to The Global Times, on the Taiwan question, Xi emphasized that it remains the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations, and China values the positive statements made by the US side during the Bali meeting. The US should implement its stance of not supporting "Taiwan independence" into concrete actions, stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification, according to the Chinese president, The Global Times reports.

According to Chinese news agency, Xinhua, Xi called on China and the United States to assume a new vision and build together five pillars for bilateral relations. Xinhua report says: China is consistently committed to having a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with the United States, and China has interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed.  And the critical global challenges we face, from climate change to counternarcotics to artificial intelligence, demand our joint efforts, Biden said.

Xi further added that the China-US relationship, which is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, should be perceived and envisioned in a broad context of the—accelerating global transformation unseen in a century. It should develop in a way that benefits our two peoples and fulfills our responsibility for human progress, Xi said.

The Chinese President further added that major-country competition is not the prevailing trend of current times and cannot solve the problems facing China and the United States or the world at large. Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed, and one country’s success is an opportunity for the other. We should heavy responsibilities for the two people, for the world, and for history, Xi said, I look forward to having an in-depth exchange of views and reach new—reach new understandings with your on strategic and overarching issues critical to the directions of China-US relations and on major issues affecting world peace and development.

Ahead of COP28, the two leaders discussed climate change issues. According to The Global Times, they expressed their joint commitment to promoting the success of the COP28 and announced the China-US Enhancing Climate Action 2020s working group to accelerate specific climate actions. Despite the differences on a host of issues, China and America have similar positions on several climate change issues which has not gone well in the developing countries.

Chinese experts have said the talk continues the tone set in Bali last year. Speaking to The Global Times, Diao Daming, associate professor at the Renmin University of China said: Looking forward, it will be important to see whether the US can truly achieve a correct understanding. If the US can adjust its understanding and truly adopt a responsible perspective, recognizing each other’s position, effectively managing differences, and advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, it will further stabilize the relations between the two countries.”