Foreign Secretary Paudyal addresses annual ministerial meetings of LLDCs and LDCs

KATHMANDU, Sept 23: Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal addressed the annual ministerial meetings of the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) held separately on the margins of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

Speaking at the LLDCs Ministerial Meeting, Foreign Secretary Paudyal outlined the development challenges faced by the LLDCs in the field of trade, transport and connectivity which were worsened by the pandemic, climate crisis and natural disasters. He highlighted the need for green and resilient recovery, expansion of physical and digital connectivity infrastructures, and strengthening of global cooperation for the LLDCs. He stressed accelerating the implementation of the Vienna Program of Action. “Since Nepal is graduating from the LDC category by 2026, building strong connectivity through resilient infrastructures is our top priority. We expect greater support from the transit countries and our development partners toward this end,” he emphasized. The meeting concluded by adopting a Ministerial Declaration. 

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Addressing the LDCs Ministerial Meeting, Foreign Secretary Paudyal underlined the challenges such as inequality, climate emergency and COVID-19 pandemic faced by the Least Developed Countries. He added that even after the implementation of four decadal Programs of Action for LDCs, these countries continue to grapple with underdevelopment and poverty and are aggravated further by the pandemic. He called for building productive capacities, boosting investment and trade, reducing poverty, and strengthening institutions to solve these problems, as endorsed by the newly adopted Doha Programme of Action for the LDCs. He emphasized on ODA, technology transfer, aid for trade and climate finance to plug the resource gaps and develop capacity of the LDCs. He also called for strong support from partners to complement Nepal’s national efforts to ensure its smooth, sustainable, and irreversible graduation. The meeting adopted a Ministerial Declaration at its conclusion.