KATHMANDU, May 13: Nepal is in the final stage of preparation for the first-ever Sagarmatha Sambaad. Centered on the theme “Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity," the inaugural Sagarmatha Sambaad is scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from May 16 to 18.
The government has decided to organize this Sambaad every two years in the future.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had announced the organization of the Sagarmatha Sambaad in Kathmandu on December 23, 2023. Following this, the Cabinet meeting on February 3, 2024 approved the decision to hold the first edition of the Sambaad. Subsequently, on February 18, the Cabinet approved the concept paper and established the secretariat for the event.
To organize the dialogue, a High-Level Steering Committee has been formed under the leadership of PM Oli. A Management Committee has also been established under the coordination of Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, with Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, serving as co-coordinator.
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Additionally, a Secretariat has been formed under the coordination of Raj Kumar Shrestha, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, while a Publicity Committee is being led by Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The coordinator of the Publicity Committee, Kshetri, stated that the objective of the Sambaad is to provide an appropriate platform in Nepal for a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral global discussion on pressing contemporary global issues. The forum aims to bring together heads of state/government, ministers, parliamentarians, policymakers, experts, media, and the business community to engage in meaningful dialogue.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the Sambaad is expected to be attended by over 150 foreign delegates from around 40 countries.
The Sagarmatha Sambaad is set to take place at Hotel Soaltee in Kathmandu, with all preparations made in accordance with international standards to ensure its success. According to the organizers, the Sambaad will see the participation of around 400 distinguished national and international figures.
Dr Maheshwar Dhakal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment and also the Member Secretary of the Secretariat, said that the event will include a high-level inaugural session, a high-level plenary discussion, 12 parallel thematic sessions, and several side events.
On the third and final day, a mountain flight has been arranged to showcase the Himalayas to the participants, and the event will conclude with the issuance of the Kathmandu Declaration.
The Sambaad is expected to serve as a valuable platform for Nepal to showcase its best practices in conservation to the world, while also providing an opportunity to learn from global best practices and solutions in addressing the climate crisis.
Given that the United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation, the issue of mountains and glaciers will be prominently featured in the discussions during the dialogue.
