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High Representative of the United Nations Rabab Fatima called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who had arrived in New York to take part in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Fatima had a meeting with Prime Minister Dahal on Tuesday.

According to the information provided by New York-based Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations, various matters related to common concerns and ways to encourage the interests and issues of the Least Developed Countries in multilateral forums were discussed on the occasion.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that Nepali citizens outside the country for various reasons will be provided the opportunity to vote in general elections.

Currently in the United States to participate in the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations, Prime Minister Dahal said that Nepali citizens will not be deprived of the right to vote.

In a meeting with Nepali media persons in New York on Sunday, he said that the Election Commission has been instructed to make voting arrangements for Nepali citizens abroad.

On a different note, Prime Minister Dahal said that the government is ready to take required measures for corruption control and maintaining good governance.

He said that some groups were active to defame the government by overshadowing the good and positive deeds carried out by it so far.

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr Shashanka Koirala has ruled out the possibility of government change at present.

Talking to mediapersons in Chitwan on Sunday, the NC leader said though general misunderstanding among the ruling partners, there was no possibility for the government change at the moment.

"As far as I am concerned, the government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal could last for five years," he said, adding that a government is necessary to take the nation towards the path of development.  "There is no tug-of-war in the government."

The leader took time to say Dahal is not an ordinary personality, adding that he saw no ground that the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) would collaborate in the days to come.

He also said that in the past he wished the NC to stay in the opposition, underlining the need for further unity within the party to keep the party legacy intact. 

He advised the party leadership to provide an opportunity to the youth generation to own up the party leadership.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has apprised the Parliament of his New York and China visit.

Dahal is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hangzhou.

Prime Minister Dahal, who is leaving for Hangzhou of China straight from New York on September 22, is scheduled to call on Chinese President Xi on September 23.

After meeting the Chinese President, he will take part in the Asian Games.

The next day, he will meet his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang.

Prime Minister Dahal said that bilateral agreements will be signed between Nepal and China during the meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

He, however, did not reveal anything about the agreements to be signed in the meeting.

Prime Minister Dahal said that Nepal and China have had a close relationship for a long time.

Saying that Nepal and China are development partners, he said that China’s role is very important in Nepal’s development.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter’s official residence in Baluwatar on Friday.

Prime Minister Dahal is leaving for China from New York on September 23.

According to a Baluwatar source, Ambassador Chen discussed possible agendas of Prime Minister Dahal’s China visit during the meeting.

China has been piling pressure on the Nepal government to implement the BRI project.

Prime Minister Dahal is preparing to sign the BRI project in Beijing without knowing whether it is under loan or grant.

The Nepal and Chinese sides have not disclosed which project will be signed.

ALSO READ: What are Dahal’s agenda in New York and Beijing?

“Prime Minister Dahal is preparing to sign the BRI project during his China visit. But China has also put forward grant projects,” an office bearer of the CPN (Maoist Center) said. “If one project is signed under loan then another will be signed under grant.”

During the meeting today, Prime Minister Dahal and Ambassador Chen also discussed taking the BRI project ahead. Prime Minister Dahal has hinted that he will sign some projects under the BRI.

China has been lobbying with the Nepal government to construct three industrial parks under the BRI project.

A Cabinet meeting will be held at 6 pm today to discuss the possible agendas of China visit and the agreements to be signed between the two countries.

Prime Minister Dahal has been claiming publicly that an agreement will be signed on the game changer project during his China visit.

CPN (Maoist Center) General Secretary Dev Gurung after returning from China had said that efforts are being made to sign agreements on important projects during the Prime Minister’s China visit.

Prime Minister Dahal is leaving for New York to take part in the United Nations General Assembly at 6 pm on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal sought cross-party advice to shape the agenda for the 78th UN General Assembly taking place in New York from Sept 18-26. Dahal’s plans extended beyond the formal assembly proceedings; he wished to gather insights for the high-stakes meetings he is slated to hold with influential world leaders on the assembly’s sidelines. His journey doesn’t end there—he’s also gearing up for a rendezvous with Chinese leaders in Beijing, where he will fly next after attending the UN meeting.   

The gravity of Dahal’s presence in New York cannot be overstated. Since 2018, no Nepali prime minister has graced the UN General Assembly with their physical presence. In the intervening years, the world witnessed virtual addresses by the prime minister and the occasional foreign minister attending on Nepal’s behalf. The Covid-19 pandemic only exacerbated the situation, where remote participation was encouraged.

This year, Dahal is set to make history by addressing the general debate of the 78th UN General Assembly. World leaders will convene to deliberate on how best to confront the multifaceted global polycrisis and expedite the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will take center stage, rallying leaders and communities alike to reaffirm their commitment to these goals at the halfway mark to 2030.

Another marquee event is the Climate Ambition Summit, scheduled for Sept 20. This presents an invaluable opportunity for leaders to collectively demonstrate their resolve to tackle the ever-escalating climate emergency, as emphasized by the UN.

In the United Nations chamber, Dahal is poised to advocate for several crucial issues. He intends to spotlight the devastating impacts of climate change and the intricate challenges posed by Nepal’s transition from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a Middle-Income Country, particularly in the realms of international trade and a gamut of socioeconomic concerns.

Crucially, Dahal will strive to reassure the international community regarding the culmination of Nepal’s transitional justice process, aligning it with the Supreme Court’s verdict and international norms. He was planning to present the transitional justice bill in Parliament before his departure to New York, but  the main opposition, CPN-UML, didn’t cooperate.

But  Dahal has to understand that even as he endeavors to advance his vision, the international community remains skeptical of the current bill, challenging his resolve to forge ahead.

Of late, the Dahal government is under immense pressure to expedite the transitional justice process. During a visit by US officials to Nepal, they inquired the Nepali leaders about the transitional justice process, perhaps prompting Dahal to feel the heat.

In New York, the prospect of Dahal holding high-level meetings remains uncertain, with the exception of a photo opportunity with US President Joe Biden. Dahal is at a crossroads, navigating between his pursuit of a blanket amnesty and the resolute international opposition. 

The Beijing leg of his journey presents its own set of challenges, particularly concerning the contentious map issue and the broader development agenda. While he may not have broached this topic during his New Delhi visit, mounting pressure from opposition parties and civil society might compel Dahal to address the map issue unequivocally, at least for domestic consumption.

To further complicate matters, Dahal grapples with other pressing priorities. He must finalize the implementation plan of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) while navigating the delicate terrain of Nepal’s stance on China’s evolving claims regarding the BRI, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative. 

Dahal has long sought to make progress in his dealings with China but exercises caution, especially given security considerations embedded within the proposed plan. His coalition partner, the Nepali Congress, has reservations about embracing the BRI, further complicating matters. With Nepal’s acceptance of the US Millennium Challenge Cooperation fund under the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Beijing is pressuring Dahal to make headway on the BRI.

Last week Dahal also talked about inking a deal on power trade with China, but the chances appear slim. He recognizes the pivotal role played by continuous support from New Delhi and Washington in sustaining his government. Both India and Western powers closely scrutinize Dahal’s China policy. Unfortunately, substantial preparations for his Beijing visit appear lacking, with Foreign Minister NP Saud notably absent from Beijing preparations in favor of the New York leg.

As a prelude to the visit, Nepali Ambassador to Beijing Bishnu Pukar Shrestha engaged with Liu Jinsong, the director-general of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Their discussions centered on deepening mutual understanding and trust, underscoring Nepal’s unwavering commitment to the One-China policy. Nepal aims to fortify traditional friendship and expand cooperation across diverse domains including the BRI with China. Yet, for China, security remains paramount, and Dahal’s visit presents an opportunity to seek reassurances on this front.

The shadow of the Chinese map issue and the Chinese ambassador's recent comments regarding India cast a pall over Dahal’s visit preparations. Beijing may not harbor high expectations this time around, appearing more amenable to New Delhi. Nevertheless, they favor the continuity of Dahal’s government over the Nepali Congress, recalling their ‘bitter experiences’ with the previous Sher Bahadur Deuba-led administration. Incremental progress and reaffirmations of past agreements may be on the agenda, but transformative breakthroughs seem unlikely. Dahal, now seasoned and matured since 2008, must balance his overtures to Beijing to prevent a change in government—a recurrent theme in Nepali politics dating back to the Panchayat era.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to visit China from Sept 23, following his participation in the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

While bureaucratic preparations are underway, the prime minister is also engaging in consultations with political leaders to determine key issues to be raised with Chinese leaders. Nepali Ambassador to China Bishnu Pukar Shrestha has been holding meetings with high-ranking Chinese officials to finalize the potential agenda for the visit. 

While the Chinese side is insisting that both sides should focus on implementation of the past agreements, there are some key issues that Dahal needs to raise when he sits with Chinese officials. Foremost among these is China’s new map that does not acknowledge Nepal’s political map launched in 2020. Dahal has already pledged to raise this issue, and the nation is keenly anticipating how he will approach it and how the northern neighbor will react.

Of late, there are confusions in Nepal over some issues raised by China. For example, China has categorized the Pokhara International Airport as a major project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Nepali authorities have consistently refuted this claim, yet the Chinese side has not clarified its stance. Likewise, there are confusions on BRI even eight years after signing of the agreement. It is the duty of the Prime Minister Dahal to articulate Nepal's concerns on the initiative.

Furthermore, there are confusions in both the political and diplomatic circles of Nepal about China’s new initiatives such as Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song recently said that Nepal is already a part of GCI. His predecessor, Hou Yanqi, too, had publicly declared that Nepal had joined the GSI.

Another pressing issue is the absence of a joint border inspection between Nepal and China. This has given rise to various issues including allegations of border encroachment by China. During his visit, Dahal should urge Beijing for a joint inspection of the border. While there are other bilateral matters that require attention, it is paramount that Dahal take up the aforementioned issues with Beijing. If both sides are genuinely committed to elevating the bilateral relationship to a new level, they must resolve these outstanding issues first.

The participation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) holds special significance for our nation. His participation underscores the importance of our leaders engaging on the international stage, enabling our voices to be heard.

During this UNGA session, it is essential for us to highlight our active involvement in peacekeeping missions and reaffirm our dedication to strengthening the United Nations. We should emphasize the need for increased opportunities for our country, as our contributions have not been proportionally reciprocated.

In this international forum, we must advocate for the maintenance of peace through dialogue, aligning with the UN’s shared objective. Additionally, we should place greater emphasis on our non-aligned movement.

Furthermore, we should advocate on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). Our commitment to addressing climate change should be highlighted, emphasizing our leadership's engagement in global trends and discourse.

The author is a Professor of International Relations

With Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s intervention, the issue of dedicated feeders has been resolved at least for now.  The issue resurfaced when, on Aug 17, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) warned industrial and commercial customers that their power connections would be disconnected unless they settled their outstanding payments within a 15-day period.

The delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) led by its President Chandra Prasad Dhakal met the Prime Minister on Monday. During the meeting, the FNCCI delegation briefed the Prime Minister that the decision to cut off electricity when the economy is in trouble due to economic recession will bring more crises.

Following a request from the FNCCI, Prime Minister Dahal contacted Kulman Ghising, the managing director of the authority, and directed him to halt ongoing proceedings. The Prime Minister assured the FNCCI team that the decision to cut off electricity by the NEA will not be implemented for now. “The government will address the issue in coordination and consultation and a study about it is underway,” said Dahal.

Given that businesses are currently operating at less than 40 percent capacity due to the ongoing economic crisis, the FNCCI suggested that specific actions are needed to safeguard industrial enterprises. FNCCI President Dhakal remarked that the NEA's actions were unjustifiable given the current state of the private sector. “At this juncture, what we require is assistance and encouragement—let’s not compound our challenges,” he said.  After the fresh notice by the NEA to settle the outstanding payments, the FNCCI convened the meeting of its ‘standing committee’ on Sunday, in which industrialists from the Bhairahawa Industrial Corridor were also present. The majority of industries that are yet to settle their dues to NEA belong to the cement and steel industries. On Monday, cement and steel industrialists also accompanied FNCCI President Dhakal to meet the Prime Minister.

While payment disputes between the NEA and the private sector have been lingering for years, the NEA issued a fresh notice after lawmakers raised the issues at the parliament demanding the suspension of its Managing Director Kulman Ghising for failure to recover the outstanding bills.  The row between the NEA and industrialists over outstanding electricity bills has been dragging on for years. The state-owned utility maintains that 62 industries owe more than Rs 19.95bn for electricity supplied to them through dedicated feeders and trunk lines since 2015.

When the country was experiencing an extreme power crisis, a board meeting of the NEA, in June 2015 set premium charges for factories using electricity through dedicated feeders from August of that year. A separate meeting of the now-dissolved Electricity Tariff Fixation Commission had decided in Jan 2016 to set premium charges for factories using direct electricity from dedicated feeders and trunk lines. The dispute intensified after May 2020, after the power utility presented bills to the factories for overdue payments.

In the second week of Aug 2020, a cabinet meeting even waived the premium charge for eight and a half months of the total dues in order to minimize excess financial burden on the industrialists. With the decision, the industrialists were supposed to settle the dues of only 28 months and 11 days. However, the industrialists have been arguing that it was not appropriate for the NEA to levy additional fees even after the power utility announced the end of load-shedding in 2016.

In April 2021, the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had directed the government to recover the dues from the industries that used electricity supplied through dedicated feeders and trunk lines after NEA failed to take action against them. The industries had filed 51 writs in various courts against the NEA over the dedicated feeder issue. While the courts dismissed 49 of these petitions, interim orders were issued for the remaining two cases involving Shivam and Maruti Cement. In the rulings favoring these two companies, it was stipulated that power supply should not be disconnected. Since the court scrapped 49 out of 51 writs, the NEA has been emboldened to pursue the collection of outstanding dues.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal paid final tribute to Constitution Assembly Chairman and CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang.

Similarly, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal among others leaders also paid last tribute to Nembang.

Earlier, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli paid tribute to Nembang by draping the party flag over his body.

Leaders and cadres of various political parties have reached the party headquarters in Chyasal, Lalitpur to pay their last respects.

Nembang, who suffered a cardiac arrest, while undergoing treatment at the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at 1:30 am today.

The mortal remains of Nembang have been kept at the party headquarters to pay final tributes.

It has been learnt that the body will be kept at the party headquarters the whole day today.

The government has also decided to cremate Nembang with state honors.

In a multiparty democracy, even if there are differences among the parties on other issues, let us establish the tradition of maintaining national consensus on foreign relations and foreign policy and always follow it. No one should make an open or opaque agreement with any foreign power against national interest for political parties, factions and private interests. In the context of a new Cold War (or Hot War?) unfolding with Asia at the center, Nepal should pay attention to its unique geo-strategic location. 

On one hand, we have to end the traditional dominance of some entity and maintain our complete independence/sovereignty/geographical integrity. On the other, we have to prevent our fall into the abyss. With regard to PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to China, emphasis should be on implementation of previous agreements and quick construction of physical and other infrastructure that will connect Nepal with China’s vast market.

The author is a former prime minister

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today said the alliance between the current ruling partners would continue for five years.

He made this remark while talking to mediapersons at the Biratnagar Airport.

PM Dahal, accompanied by leaders of the Socialist Front, an alliance of four leftist parties, reached Biratnagar to address a 'message assembly' of the Front.

The assembly was organized by the Front including the CPN (Maoist Center), the CPN (Unified Socialist), the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) and the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) led by Netra Bikram Chand.

CPN (US) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, JSP Chairperson Upendra Yadav and the CPN General Secretary Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav' are scheduled to address the meeting.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to not stop electricity supply to the industries until the dispute over the tariff related to dedicated feeder and trunk line is resolved. He said a study is being carried out to resolve the dispute over the tariff.

PM Dahal telephoned NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising and issued this directive following his meeting with a delegation of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) led by its president Chandra Prasad Dhakal at the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar today.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister assured that he would take initiatives to sort out the dispute at the earliest by keeping the FNCCI, the Electricity Regulation Commission and NEA at one place.

The NEA had on September 3 issued a notice requiring the industries to pay within 15 days their outstanding electricity tariff of the dedicated feeder and trunk line. It had cautioned the industries that electricity supply would be stopped if they failed to clear the due tariff amount within the deadline.

FNCCI has suggested to the government that special initiatives were needed to protect the industries in the present time of economic crisis when they are operating at less than 40 percent of their capacity.

"We need support and cooperation at the present time. Our demand is that more problems should not be created," said the FNCCI president Dhakal. FNCCI says the industries and businesses are facing continued crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic and the entrepreneurs would be further discouraged if power supply is cut in such a situation.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is holding a comprehensive discussion with the Nepali Ambassadors in the destination countries to make foreign employment orderly, dignified and safe.

The ambassadors and heads of delegations of the destination countries have arrived in Kathmandu for discussions to be held on Monday and Tuesday at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the discussion to be chaired by Prime Minister Dahal will focus on labor migration issues and the role of diplomatic missions.

The meeting will deal with the problems faced by the workers going for foreign employment from the time they get the work permit to the workplace, find ways to solve them and turn the conclusions into decisions.

The Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also participate in the discussion. The meeting will identify necessary legal and structural reforms required for a safe labor destination.

This is the first-of-its-kind meeting being held in Nepal at the initiative of the Prime Minister.

A working group consisting of secretaries of relevant ministries was formed under the leadership of the chief secretary to collect the necessary data from the Nepali embassies in the destination countries and ways to solve the problems seen in the foreign employment sector.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that his visit to China will be fruitful and effective.

The Prime Minister, who will leave for China after taking part in  the United Nations General Assembly in New York, had called a meeting on Sunday morning to discuss the agendas.

After receiving the suggestions, Prime Minister Dahal said that he is trying to make his upcoming visit to China more fruitful.

“I will try to make the visit effective by fixing the agendas keeping in mind the suggestions given by you,” he said.

Before leaving for the northern neighbor, former prime ministers and foreign ministers said that it is necessary to review the implementation status of the agreements made with him in the past.

The participants suggested to the Prime Minister to convince the neighboring countries about the non-aligned foreign policy of Nepal, maintain balanced diplomatic relations, take into consideration the issues of mutual concern and including each other’s security.

In response, Prime Minister Dahal said that he is committed to maintaining balanced relationships with all the countries of the world including the neighbors and Nepal’s non-aligned foreign policy.

Similarly, the Prime Minister said that he will appraise the United Nations General Assembly of Nepal’s peace process, development efforts and impact of climate change among others.

Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Democratic Socialist Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur, Janamat Party Chairman CK Raut and Rastriya Janamorcha Party Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC among others were present in the meeting.

Prime Minister Dahal is leaving for New York to take part in the United Nations General Assembly on September 16.

He is scheduled to leave for China from there.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been suggested to take the neighboring countries into confidence.

During a meeting with leaders of major political parties representing the Parliament, foreign minister and former foreign ministers among others at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Sunday, they suggested the Prime Minister move ahead by taking China and India into confidence.

After the meeting, former foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey said that China and India are losing trust in Nepal’s leaders.

“China and India are losing confidence from Nepal’s leaders. Why did they lose their trust? Why did they not trust Nepal? We have suggested to the Prime Minister to understand this matter,” he said.

He suggested the Prime Minister immediately create an environment of trust with neighboring countries.

Similarly, Janamat Party Chairman CK Raut has suggested inquiring about the measures China has adopted to alleviate poverty.

He also suggested the Prime Minister create an environment to open Chinese industries in Nepal.

“The fertilizer factory should also be opened immediately,” he said.