Nepal in UNGA: Foreign Minister Khanal Calls for Global Solidarity to Ensure Right to Development

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has emphasized that ensuring the right to development requires strong political will, renewed global solidarity, and adequate resources, technology, and concessional financial access for developing countries.

Addressing the high-level session held on Wednesday to mark the 40th anniversary of the “Declaration on the Right to Development” during the 81st UN General Assembly, Minister Khanal stated that although human-centered development has been prioritized, much greater effort is still needed to fully meet people’s development aspirations.

“There are both traditional and emerging challenges to making development effective, inclusive, and sustainable,” he said. “Even the Sustainable Development Goals have not advanced as expected. Limited resources, capacities, and technologies, coupled with rising geopolitical tensions, deepening climate crises, and shrinking financial opportunities, have further slowed the pace of development.”

Highlighting the need for stronger political will and renewed global solidarity to overcome these challenges, he stressed that international cooperation must be reinforced to achieve shared development goals.

Minister Khanal noted that the Government of Nepal has given high priority to good governance and economic transformation, focusing on promoting economic growth, expanding employment opportunities, and reducing poverty.

He underlined the importance of expanding essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and transmission lines, while also ensuring climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development.

Referring to the recent devastating floods in Nepal, he remarked:

“The floods have taught us an important lesson—that development must adapt to nature’s changing rhythm. Climate-induced disasters can undermine decades of hard-earned development achievements in an instant.”

He further stressed that poverty, inequality, and non-inclusive development in any part of the world affect the global community as a whole:

“Poverty in any corner of the world challenges prosperity everywhere. Non-inclusive economic growth puts progress at risk. A narrow, self-centered approach to development can jeopardize environmental sustainability and the livelihoods of the global community.”

Minister Khanal underscored the intergenerational responsibility of safeguarding the planet:

“This Earth does not belong to a single generation or to humanity alone. Let us commit to fully implementing the spirit and principles of the Declaration on the Right to Development in every action, at all times, and in every corner of the world.”

He called on the international community to strengthen mutual respect, cooperation, solidarity, and shared responsibility to ensure the right to development in its true sense.