Kathmandu, Sept. 30: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Narayan Khadka returned home today after attending the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The Minister reached New York on September 24. While in New York, he addressed the General Debate of the 76th session of the UNGA as the head of the Nepali delegation.

On the occasion, Nepal presented its views on the current issues of global concerns including of Nepal and on the affairs of bilateral and multilateral interests.

Nepal raised the issues of the COVID-19 crisis, easy access to vaccines for its elimination and unhindered availability of health supplies. The Minister apprised the UNGA forum about Nepal’s concerns on climate change, issues of mountainous countries, and common problems and challenges of Nepal-like landlocked and least developed countries (LDCs) as well as its views on human rights, terrorism and disarmament were also raised.

Talking to media persons at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) about his New York official visit and bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries, he said Nepal reiterated its commitment to the UN Charter, its principles, and objectives. More, Nepal applauded the role of the UN to the promotion of world peace, goodwill and development, insisting on the strengthening of multilateralism and on the improvement and restructuring of the UN in the present challenges.

He went on to say that Nepal drew the world’s attention towards the issues of the LDCs and the landlocked countries, and also stressed the need of tackling poverty and inequalities facing such countries through the means of international cooperation, technology handover and investment for the development of such nations.

On the sidelines of the Session, the Minister held meetings with counterparts from India, Bangladesh, Kuwait, and Bahrain. He had meetings with the President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations and Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support. Further, he participated in the interactive programme with the Nepali diaspora.

Officiating Foreign Affairs Secretary Prakash Kumar Subedi and Ministry’s senior officials were at TIA to welcome the Foreign Minister and the members of the Nepali delegation. The delegation was seen off at the John F. Kennedy International Airport by Amrit Bahadur Rai, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN, and other officials of the Permanent Mission and Consulate General of Nepal in New York, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.