Govt completes internal preparations for Sagarmatha Sambaad

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 30: The much-anticipated Sagarmatha Sambaad, internationally known as the Everest Dialogue, is just two weeks away.

Preparations are in full swing for the event, which will take place in Kathmandu from May 16 to May 18. The theme of the Sambaad is ‘Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Human Life.’

Informing about the event’s preparations, Lok Bahadur Chhetri, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that various programmes, including the Himali Sambaad, Children and Youth Sambaad, a briefing for international media, the call for Sagarmatha Sambaad Social Ambassadors, and invitations to international delegates, have all been completed.

During a press briefing on Monday, the Sagarmatha Sambaad app was launched to provide comprehensive information from a single source. All information and publicity will be shared digitally.

Nawaraj Ghimire, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that all internal preparations have been completed. However, the final list of delegates, speakers and participating heads of state will be finalised soon.

The Sambaad will feature 12 sessions. Each session will focus on various aspects bringing together global leaders, experts and stakeholders to discuss critical issues related to the environment, climate change and mountain ecosystems.

Dr. Maheshwor Dhakal, Chief of the Climate Change Management Division at the Ministry of Forests and Environment and Member Secretary of the Sambaad Secretariat, said that all the panelists will be finalised this week. The Sambaad is a global dialogue forum established by the government to deliberate on prominent issues of global, regional and national significance.

“The programme will be broadcast through live platforms and we have encouraged school and college students to watch the programme to ensure equal participation from all sectors,” Dr. Dhakal said.

Participants of the Sambaad include heads of state/government, ministers and senior government officials, heads of UN and its agencies as well as international and regional organisations, renowned climate scientists, experts, scholars, and researchers, entrepreneurs, influential media figures, celebrities, and activists, emerging youth, women and community leaders, and heads of INGOs and civil society organisations.

The flagship Sagarmatha Sambaad, was proposed when Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was Prime Minister in 2019, but the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.