INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, April 27
President Bidya Devi Bhandari addressed the Leaders& Roundtable of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International
Cooperation in Beijing today.
Speaking on the theme of ‘Promoting Green and Sustainable Development to Implement the UN 2030 Agenda&, the
president drew the attention of world leaders to the adverse impacts of climate change and emphasised the need to develop clean energy and
low-carbon pathways of development through research-based solutions, said a press release issued by Embassy of Nepal in Beijing.
Expressing
the view that realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was possible only through enhanced cooperation among nations,
President Bhandari stated that the objectives of development and prosperity as emphasised by the Belt and Road Initiative closely
corresponded to the Sustainable Development Goals for achieving transformative, inclusive and equitable development outcomes.
The president
said the Belt and Road Initiative was emerging as a key driver for poverty alleviation, employment generation, infrastructure building and
industrial transformation.
She also expressed confidence that BRI would support the process of economic transformation in Nepal by expanding
connectivity networks and supporting the country economic integration into the global market.
The Second Belt and Road Forum concluded in
Beijing today with the release of a joint communiqué titled ‘Belt and Road Cooperation: Shaping a Brighter Shared Future&
In the communiqué, leaders from participating countries expressed support for building on the progress made in developing economic
corridors and economic and trade cooperation zones in various countries, including the Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional
Connectivity Network and Nepal-China cross-border railway.
The leaders vowed to support policies and activities that helped landlocked
countries transform into land-linked ones, by strengthening connectivity and co-operation on transit arrangements and infrastructure.
They
also highlighted the importance of special and differential treatment in international trade for developing countries and reaffirmed their
commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Chief Minister of Province 3 Dor
Mani Paudel and other officials were present on the occasion.
In the evening, President Bhandari attended a welcome reception hosted in her
honour at the Embassy of Nepal by Ambassador Leela Mani Paudyal.
On behalf of the president, the foreign minister spoke on the importance of
the first-ever state visit of the president of Nepal to China and expressed hope that the visit would add a new chapter in expanding and
consolidating the already-warm and cordial ties and cooperative partnership between the two countries
He urged the Nepali community of China to contribute to the development of Nepal through their knowledge and skills.
Ambassador Paudyal
delivered a welcome statement.
Members of the president delegation and Nepali nationals from different walks of life living in China
