Khanal urges global support for LDC development challenges

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal spoke at the annual gathering of LDC foreign ministers in New York. The event took place during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He argued that international commitments must be converted into concrete actions. Key areas of focus included finance, climate justice, and sustainable development strategies for these nations. Khanal highlighted the vulnerability of LDCs, noting they represent 14 percent of the global population but less than 1.5 percent of world trade. He pointed to recent floods and landslides in Nepal's trans-Himalayan regions as a critical example. These events damaged infrastructure and affected livelihoods, illustrating the severe climate risks faced by the poorest countries. The minister stated that Nepal worked to implement the Doha Programme of Action during its three-year chairmanship. Efforts were made to ensure LDC priorities remained central to global development discussions. A special summit held in 2025 helped integrate LDC priorities into the Seville Commitment, covering concessional finance and technology transfer. Khanal emphasized the importance of sustainable graduation from the LDC category. He noted that Nepal, Bangladesh, and Laos are currently in the process of graduating. He argued that economic indicators alone are insufficient; nations must also build capacity to handle external and climate-related shocks effectively. Nepal is set to hand over the LDC group chairmanship to Gambia. Khanal expressed full support for the new chair and bureau. He called for immediate capitalization of the loss and damage fund and the establishment of multi-hazard early warning systems for all vulnerable communities.