ANTALYA: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal held talks with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Antalya, Turkey, on Thursday, focusing on Nepal’s post-flood recovery, climate change and the need for stronger international cooperation.
The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31).
During the discussion, Khanal thanked Guterres for expressing sympathy and solidarity with Nepal following the recent climate-induced floods in the Bhote Koshi region. He also praised the UN chief for his leadership in advancing multilateral cooperation, global peace, human dignity and sustainable development.
Secretary-General Guterres, meanwhile, recognized Nepal’s contributions to international peace and stability, particularly its longstanding role as a major contributor of troops and police personnel to UN peacekeeping operations.
The two leaders discussed Nepal’s recovery and reconstruction priorities in the aftermath of the floods, highlighting the importance of international support in addressing the growing impacts of climate-related disasters.
Their discussions also covered reforms in the global governance system, the expansion of multi-hazard early warning systems, increased access to climate finance and the need to accelerate global climate action.
They further exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared interest, underscoring the importance of collective efforts and effective multilateral cooperation to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
