PM Oli holds separate meetings with his counterparts of Qatar, Pakistan and Laos

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is in New York to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly, held separate meetings with the leaders of Qatar, Pakistan and Laos on Thursday.

The meeting with the Qatar Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, was held at the office of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the UN. Principal political advisor to PM Oli, Bishnu Prasad Rimal and Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, among other officials were present in this meeting.

Similarly, PM Oli and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting at the UN Headquarters on Thursday.  PM's advisor Rimal and Nepal's Permanent Representative to the UN, Lok Bahadur Thapa were present in the meeting.

Likewise, Prime Minister Oli and Prime Minister of Laos, Sonexay Siphandone, had a meeting at the UN Headquarters. PM's principal political advisor Rimal, Nepal's permanent representative to the UN, Lok Bahadur Thapa among other officials were present during the meeting.

 

PM Oli holds talks with Bangladesh chief advisor

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus held a meeting on the sidelines of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Nepal-Bangladesh relations with a focus on energy and transit cooperation, tourism, cultural exchanges, educational ties and cooperation in regional and multilateral forums were discussed, according to Bishnu Rimal, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister.

 

 

Prime Minister Oli speaks at World Leaders Forum

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of Nepal spoke at the World Leaders Forum on Monday in a talk titled “Nepal’s Journey to Democracy and Economic Prosperity.”

Jenik Radon, adjunct professor at the School of International and Public Affairs and drafter of the interim constitution of Nepal during the constitutional peace process, moderated the event, which was co-sponsored by the South Asia Institute.

University Provost Angelina Olinto introduced Oli at the start of the event and spoke about Oli’s role in Nepal’s political transformation.

“This includes the active role the Prime Minister has played as a political activist, a youth party leader, a parliamentarian, and a prime minister in this national transformation,” Olinto said.

Oli opened the event with a 12-minute speech discussing Nepal’s political and economic history as well as its goals for the future. He began by thanking Olinto and Columbia’s board of trustees.

“In our Nepali culture, we regard places of learning as temples of wisdom and when I am standing here, I feel as though I am standing in one of the greatest temples of all,” Oli said.

He touched on key milestones in Nepali history, noting that “the road to modernity and democracy was not a straight path.”

Oli spoke about the modern history of Nepal beginning in 1768 before talking about the 2015 constitution, which “enables us to focus on the next stage of our journey—the pursuit of economic prosperity.”

He described his “life-long struggle to freedom” as having centered on comprehensive democracy, which he defined as “an environment that guarantees equal rights, equal access to opportunities, social justice, and security as well as dignity for all.”

Oli answered questions from Radon and audience members for around 40 minutes and spoke on a variety of topics including climate change and Nepal’s relationship with India and China.

Radon asked two questions about swaths of Nepal’s youth leaving for employment and education opportunities abroad. Roughly one million people leave Nepal every year and 100,000 students study abroad, Radon said.

“The challenge is their education and development,” Radon said. “What steps will you be taking in the near future to make it a home for the million who are leaving as well as the hundred thousand who have left to get education elsewhere?”

Oli said that youth “flying away from the country” is an issue and that the trend is related to education, job opportunities, and economic development of the country, but he added that many who leave eventually return.

“People talk about the rush in the output, youths are going outside, outside, outside,” Oli said. “But they don’t take any account of the people coming back too.”

Radon then asked about climate change, to which Oli responded that the country is aware of the issue and pointed out the fact that Nepal has battled climate change by maintaining the natural form of the land.

Following Radon’s questions, students asked Oli about Nepal’s relationship to its neighbors, and one student asked about Nepal’s abstention on the U.N. resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories.

On the topic of the UN resolution, Oli did not directly respond concerning Nepal’s decision, but said that they “are always in favor of peace,” saying that Nepal is the “birthplace of Lord Buddha and the mountain of Buddhism.”

 

Referring to Nepal’s relationship with India and China, Oli said that they are between “two giant neighbors” with whom they have a friendship that is “undestroyable” and “lasting.”

PM Oli attends reception hosted by US President Biden

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is in New York to attend the 79th UN General Assembly, attended a reception hosted by US President Joe Biden.

Prime Minister Oli joined the Heads of State and Government of different countries participating in the UNGA at the reception held at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts in New York.

 

MCC CEO Albright calls on PM Oli

Alice Albright, the CEO of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Oli, who is in New York attending the 79th UN General Assembly, various matters of bilateral interests between Nepal and the US, and MCC projects in Nepal were discussed.

"We look forward to early completion of the project for high quality connectivity through transmission lines and highways," the PM has posted on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account following the meeting.

Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, among others were also present during the meeting.

 

PM Oli calls for integrated Mountain to Sea initiative

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called for adoption of an integrated approach, a ‘Mountain to Sea’ initiative in our climate actions, recognizing the inherent connections between this ecosystem.

"Their coverage should span from Everest to the Indian Ocean, from the Pamirs to the Pacific, and from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, recognizing environmental and ecological inter-linkages."

In his statement at the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the theme "Addressing the Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise" earlier today, Prime Minister Oli said we must take bold, decisive actions to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. "This is not just a number—it is the threshold for survival."

Even 1.5°C is too hot for the Himalayas, as ICIMOD states, because the elevation-dependent warming will amplify its impacts equal to a 2 degree-increase. The Himalayas and other high mountains are natural refrigerators and recharge systems, cooling all the air blowing through them and recharging the river systems downstream.

Calling for collective global effort to tackle rising sea levels, to build resilience in our nations, and to adapt to the changes, he said hand-in-hand, we must control release of pollutants that generate acidic clouds and other effects as the pristine glaciers are turning into the depository of various contaminants.  "Most importantly, we must deliver climate justice. Wealthy nations must lead from the front to support vulnerable countries."

Prime Minister Oli also called upon the UN General Assembly to convene a high-level meeting next year, dedicated to addressing the existential threats posed by climate change to both mountain nations and island states.

As global warming threatens the ecosystem between mountains and seas, mountain nations like Nepal and the coastal nations including the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) will turn into its conjoined victims, he said, "For the SIDS and other coastal nations there is a direct threat to their existence as by 2100 the coastal regions are likely to submerge with nearly two and a half meters in seawater." 

Representing the nation of Mt. Everest and the mighty Himalayas, also known as the ‘Third Pole’, I propose to start our deliberations keeping in mind a long connecting chain—the melting of ice and glaciers in mountains and polar regions that ultimately results in sea level rise (SLR).

"Our actions to prevent the SLR are integral to what we do to stop alarming loss of ice and snow from the mountains, to stop avalanches and glacial lake outbursts", he added.

A set of dry but dreadful figures illustrate the ecosystem from mountain to sea, which includes the contribution of glacier melt to the sea level rise, the amount of ice Nepal lost in just over three decades and the estimated loss of the Himalayan glaciers by 2100 A. D. under the current level of emissions.

For the billions dependent on snow-and ice-fed rivers, this will mean the drying of their lifeblood, and ultimately decimation of river-based civilizations, Oli said, "Because when two-thirds of the Himalayan glaciers are gone, Asia’s at least 10 river systems will also dry."

During his statement, Prime Minister Oli also urged to stop reckless burning of fossil fuel in the name of development to save our planet for future generations to come.

 

Gap between health services of developed and underdeveloped countries should be addressed: PM

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the disparity in health services between developed and underdeveloped countries should be ended.

As a result of this disparity, it has been challenging for underdeveloped countries to provide equal health services for all.

Addressing a program organized by Mount Sinai Hospital and AMPATH Nepal in New York today, Prime Minister Oli, who is in New York to attend the 79th UN General Assembly, said that despite the vast improvements in science and technology underdeveloped countries are facing challenges in the field of health infrastructure. "There is disparity in health care and infrastructure between rich and poor countries. Due to financial constraints, the people of poor countries are not able to get easy and quality healthcare services", he said,

The Government of Nepal is working with the goal of providing basic healthcare services to all by according top priority to the health sector. We look forward to international cooperation and partnership towards this end.

Prime Minister Oli said that the Healthy Nepal campaign has been conducted to prevent people from falling sick rather than treating them after they fall ill, and said that the campaign is part of the national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Oli also pointed out to the fact that before the development of modern medicine in the world the ancestors of Nepal developed traditional and Ayurvedic treatment methods, which are still in use today.

Nepal has made significant improvements in the health sector including bringing down the maternal and child mortality rate but due to inadequacy of resources the health infrastructure has not been developed as much as expected. "Despite gradual improvement in Nepal's health sector with the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, the partnership of the international community is necessary for modern and infrastructure-equipped health services", he said, "I would like to thank Mount Sinai Hospital for its collaboration with Kathmandu University and Dhulikhel Hospital in training, research and resource mobilization to support Nepal's health sector,” Oli said.

Also speaking at the program, Research Director of Dhulikhel Hospital, Dr Rajeev Shrestha, shared with more than 70 percent of deaths in Nepal caused by non-communicable diseases, AMPATH is working to enhance specialist services in the treatment of diseases related to heart, kidney and of cancer.

The AMPATH Consortium is a network of academic health centers that aims to foster long-term, equitable and cross-cultural partnerships with host health centers and universities that serve populations with significant unmet needs. Each institution brings their own perspective and provides its own opportunities for medical trainee exchange programs and hands-on education, in the U.S., Canada and across the globe, according to AMPATH Nepal website.

 

PM Oli holds talks with his Samoa counterpart Matafa

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is currently in New York to participate in the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) leading a Nepali delegation, held a meeting with Samoa's Prime Minister Faime Naomi Matafa on Tuesday.

They held the sideline meeting at the office of the permanent mission of Samoa to the UN in New York.

PM Oli's chief advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, foreign secretary Sewa Lamsal and permanent representative of Nepal to the UN Lok Bahadur Thapa among others were also present in the meeting.

 

PM Oli holds meeting with Finland's President Stubb

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is currently in New York to participate in the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) leading a Nepali delegation, held a meeting with Finland's President, Alexander Stubb on Tuesday.

The two leaders had a meeting at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.

PM Oli's chief advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, foreign secretary Sewa Lamsal and permanent representative of Nepal to the UN Lok Bahadur Thapa among others were also present on the occasion.

PM Oli pledges to open consulate general of Nepal in California

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has pledged to open the Consulate General of Nepal in the western region of the US, California, soon.

Prime Minister Oli, who is currently in New York to participate in the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, leading a Nepali delegation, made the commitment responding to the demand for the same by various organizations of the Nepali community.

There are around 100,000 Nepalis residing in the State. The Nepali Public Relations Committee, Nepali Association of Northern California and other organizations had called for the opening of a consulate office in San Francisco, California reasoning that it has been inconvenient for them to access the service by reaching New York or Washington DC, where the Consulate General of Nepal is currently located.

They have urged for the establishment of a consulate general office in the region as it would address the problems facing the Nepali community for the services, including passport renewal, to a great extent. 

Noting that he was positive to the demand, PM Oli assured that the government would take a decision in this regard soon. "We have already planned to open a Consulate General of Nepal in California soon", he said.

California State is a hub of science and technology as well as Silicon Valley, so Nepal and Nepalis can reap benefits from it, the demand paper stated.

The Committee also called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba to draw her attention to the same issue and extended an invitation to visit California.

The Nepali Diaspora representatives had also expressed their interest before the PM that Nepalis living abroad would also play a role for the country's prosperity and development. 

They also discussed with the PM about the issue of dual citizenship and its proper address through amendment to the constitutional provisions. Prime Minister Oli showed concern over disputes within the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA).

Prime Minister Oli urged all to work with the belief that a one-time Nepali would be a Nepali forever while hinting provision such as nullifying the abroad citizenship for exercising political rights in the country could be made,

In responding to queries from the participants in the political context, PM Oli said there would be no amendments to the constitution on issues such as democratic values, federalism, protection of republican system and sovereignty of the country.

He said that the constitution amendment issue would take the shape of consensus among the parties.

Meanwhile, different Nepali community organizations called on PM Oli and demanded the opening of Nepali Consulate General office in Texas. Likewise, Nepali community representatives based in Canada also urged the PM to take initiative for the establishment of the Canadian Embassy in Nepal.  

PM Oli urges Nepali youths living abroad to return home for employment creation

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged the Nepali youths living abroad to return home and create employment opportunities.

Prime Minister Oli, who is leading a Nepali delegation to the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said this at the World Leaders Forum organized by Columbia University on Monday.

He clarified that the national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' has been put forward to eradicate poverty and ensure the right of all to live with dignity.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at a dialogue on 'Nepal's Journey of Democracy and Economic Development', he said there is only the data of students and youths who have gone abroad from Nepal but not that of returnees.

Noting that the government has brought out programs such as small-scale industries and 'startups' for employment opportunities, PM Oli urged the youths to unite in nation-building as he was clear that the country could not transform without the youth. 

"Nepal's economic situation is not very weak. On the contrary, I see a lot of potential for its prosperity, which we will be able to achieve within a short time if we work hard", he said, adding, "We are a rising democracy. We are also neighbors of economic powers like India and China. In that sense, Nepal is in a position to become a multi-dimensional economy for economic development".

Saying that he was leading a government with two major parliamentary parties that had played a decisive role in Nepal's democratic movement, PM Oli said he had a resolution to maintain good governance and transparency.

"We have no other intention but to make Nepalis prosperous and happy. We are fully committed to the journey of prosperity", the PM shared.

Addressing the 'Lead Free Future: Partnership Launch and Pledging Event' organized by USAID and UNICEF, PM Oli expressed solidarity with the lead-free campaign. He said that Nepal has already understood that the use of lead has affected the health of children.

He clarified that Nepal has been implementing the policy of freeing lead from its use with the understanding that it has affected the health of children and recently brought a bill related to food security in the parliament.

US President Joe Biden's wife Dr Jill Biden, the President of Dominica, the President of Malawi, among others, also spoke on the occasion.  

PM Oli holds talks with his Indian counterpart Modi in New York

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is currently in New York to participate in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), held a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Matters related to Nepal-India bilateral interests and mutual benefits were discussed on the occasion.

The meeting was also attended by the foreign ministers of both the countries and members of the delegations.

 

UN High Commissioner for HR calls on PM Oli

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the Office of the Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN in New York today.

PM Oli is currently in New York to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly, leading the Nepali delegation.

On the occasion, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Türk, expressed his happiness over the endorsement of the legislations related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Disappeared Persons, the two laws connected to finalization of the peace process in Nepal.

In the meeting, Türk stated that this topic of political consensus in Nepal could be a model for the world, according to Bishnu Prasad Rimal, the Principal Advisor to PM Oli, who was present during the meeting.

Similarly, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights agreed that climate justice is inevitable to Nepal, as the melting of snow in the mountains of Nepal due to global warming will affect the world.

Prime Minister Oli stressed on giving equal and strategic value to climate justice issues for protecting the human race in the world.

PM's Principal Advisor Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, and Nepal's Permanent Representative to the UN, Lok Bahadur Thapa were present during the meeting.

 

Poverty is common problem of LDCs: PM Oli

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressed the 'Summit of the Future' session of the 79th United Nations General Assembly on Sunday.

PM Oli is currently in New York, leading the Nepali delegation to the 79th UN General Assembly.

On the occasion, PM Oli underscored on industrialization and increasing the production for combating poverty which remains as the common challenge of the Group of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

PM Oli stated that the LDCs have been adversely affected by emission of greenhouse gasses by developed countries and urged the latter to invest more in climate financing.

Noting that hundreds of thousands of children are deprived of their rights to food and education due to poverty, he stressed on concerted efforts for poverty alleviation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, PM's Principal Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, and Nepal's Permanent Representative to the UN Lok Bahadur Thapa among others attended the Session.

 

Countries emitting carbon should pay compensation: PM Oli

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that Nepal is clear in its view that carbon emitting countries should compensate the non-emitting countries.

Prime Minister Oli, who is in New York to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), leading the Nepali delegation, said this while addressing as the keynote speaker at a program on Parliamentarians for Fossil Fuel Free, on Saturday.

Stating that Nepal has helped reduce the climate change impact through zero carbon emission, he stressed on compensating the communities suffering from climate change impact due to the emissions by the developed countries. He presented the case of the snow melting in the Nepal Himalayas, including Sagarmatha (Mt Everest).

PM Oli called on the developed countries of the world to increase funding for future climate adaptation as established by the Paris Agreement. "Our future is bright because we are investing for the future," he said.

 

PM Oli meets with UN Secretary General Guterres

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres held a meeting on Saturday.

Prime Minister Oli, who is in New York to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly, met with UN Secretary General Guterres at the United Nations Building.

During the meeting, they shared opinions on the need to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

On the occasion, Secretary General Guterres expressed his commitment to lobby with the international community for compensating Nepal for the impact it has been having including melting of its mountains due to climate change. He also emphasized that sufficient climate finance should be provided to mountainous countries like Nepal, while working on radical reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Recalling his visit to Nepal last year, Secretary General Guterres emphasized the need for intensive reform in the global order with a focus on reducing and preventing carbon emissions that have been impacting developing countries, including least developed countries like Nepal, according to Nepal's Permanent Representative to the UN, Lok Bahadur Thapa, who also attended the meeting.

Assuring that the United Nations will take initiatives for simplified access of the developing countries to advanced financial assistance, the UN Secretary General also highly praised the performance of the Nepali security personnel in the UN peacekeeping missions.

In response, Prime Minister Oli expressed his gratitude to the UN Secretary General for visiting Nepal while urging him to take the initiative to deliver climate justice to Nepal. He also requested to provide leadership positions to Nepal in the UN peacekeeping force, considering its notable contribution to maintaining international peace and security.

The Prime Minister also thanked the United Nations and the international community for their concern in the recent avalanche in the Khumbu region of Nepal and shared that Nepal will soon host the Sagarmatha Dialogue on the agenda of the Himalayan ecosystem. He also invited the UN Secretary General Guterres to join the dialogue.

Foreign Minister Arju Rana Deuba, Prime Minister's Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amrit Bahadur Rai were also present in the meeting.

Earlier today, UN High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Under Secretary General Rabab Fatima, called on Prime Minister Oli at the office of the Nepali Mission.

During the meeting, matters relating to enhancing Nepal-UN cooperation including the promotion of LDCs’ interests in multilateral fora were discussed.