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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the problems suffered by Nepal due to climate change impact would be internationalized.

Addressing a public assembly organized at Maikot of Rukum East today, he said Nepal will clearly put its views claiming for compensation keeping in mind the huge damage the country has been bearing although its role is negligible in climate change.

PM Dahal made it clear that he has urged the international community time and again to significantly increase the funds provided by the International Fund to Nepal for alleviating the suffering from the climate change as it has so far received only a small amount in that connection.

He claimed that upon his invitation the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres paid a visit to Nepal recently and observed from close the impact the climate change is having in Nepal.

According to him, the relief that Nepal is entitled to get from the international community as compensation for bearing the brunt of the impact of climate change is Nepal's right. Stating Nepal is getting punishment for the mistake it has not committed, the PM said the high government officials have been directed to prepare a document on behalf of the government claiming for a large amount of relief from the Climate Fund.

He assured of the government's support and cooperation in declaring Maikot as an ‘Open Museum’ and forwarding the necessary process for this. The PM said initiatives would be taken for pursuing a special project for the promotion of medicinal herbs and development of the agriculture sector in the region.

Saying that agreement has been reached during his official visit to China to operate special projects in some mountainous districts, he said a project would be run in Putha Uttarganga as well since it is also a municipality located in mountainous region. 

He assured of managing the budget on behalf of the federal government for developing Maikot as a 'Living Museum'. The government has kept this region in special priority since it has made big sacrifices and contributions for the revolution. Importance has been given equally to the development of health, education and employment sectors.

Recalling that Nepal has been mentioned as a socialism-oriented economy, the Head of the Government said the government has taken initiatives for social justice, good governance and prosperity, and works have also been started in line with this very resolution. He informed that hundreds of thousands of farmers in the Tarai-Madhes have been freed from extortion by loan sharks. He added that the present government has also provided citizenship certificates to the Nepali bereft of citizenship cards, keeping them in priority.

Hundreds of thousands of youths who have gone abroad have been brought under the social security cover in order to ensure their rights and interests; so, have been the workers in the informal sector and those in self-employment, the PM asserted.

Stating that the government is vigorously working to prepare the basis for socialism, he also presented some facts related to this. The government is equally at work towards controlling corruption and a situation has been created in which high officials as ministers and leaders will have to go to jail, he added.

The PM stated that the government is equally actively working for checking the smuggling of gold, stressing the government will also continuously work towards maintaining good governance.

On a different note, PM Dahal asserted that the present ruling coalition will last for a full five-year term and demonstrate that it works in favor of the country and the people.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed the hope that the Chhath festival will inspire all of us to embrace the values of good governance, prosperity and social justice.

Extending his best wishes to the entire Nepali sisters and brothers on the occasion of the Chhath, the Prime Minister hoped that the festival would contribute to further strengthening national unity, mutual trust and ties, empowering us to overcome prevailing challenges in the country.  

"The festivals celebrated in Nepali society carry a historic significance and background, and serve as the foundation for human civilization and development," the head of the government said on the occasion of the festival dedicated to the Sun god.

Stating that this festival is established as the festival forging a lively practical connection between nature and human life, he said it played an important role in terms of respect and preservation of goods useful in human life and also for the development of a culture of production and work.

The PM said although small in terms of territory and area, Nepal is big and prosperous in terms of diversity of languages, cultures, festivals, costumes and civilization.

The Prime Minister stated that our culture, rituals and historic facts very much vindicated to the richness of our cultural diversity, adding the Constitution of Nepal has adopted the unity with diversity as the national dignity, internalizing the multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-cultural and regional uniqueness of Nepali society.

Prime Minister Dahal expressed the belief that the Chhath festival inspired us all towards fulfilling the national mission of prosperity by converting the challenges into opportunity, infusing hope in the people's and social life and coalescing unity in the nation.

Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that all festivals of the country are the heritage of our social relations and cultural harmony.

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of Chhath festival, he said that festivals help to develop a spirit of collectivism and help to build the foundation of unity and harmony.

Extending his best wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity and success to all on the occasion of this festival, Deuba said that Nepal is a country with diverse festivals, religious and cultural traditions and with a harmonious tradition of respecting and honoring one another's religious and cultural traditions.

Leader Deuba has also wished that the Chhath festival may inspire all everyone to promote social harmony by creating an atmosphere of happiness, peace and prosperity.

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.