PM Shah meets UN Secretary-General Guterres

Prime Minister Balendra Shah held a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, ahead of his address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

The meeting took place at 6:30 p.m. local time, shortly before Prime Minister Shah was scheduled to address the General Assembly.

Secretary-General Guterres expressed condolences over the loss of lives and property in the recent Bhotekoshi disaster and said the United Nations stands in solidarity with Nepal on climate-related issues.

Guterres also praised the participation of Nepal’s young delegation and recalled his visit to Nepal as a tourist in 1978. He said he would continue to support Nepal even after completing his tenure as UN Secretary-General.

Prime Minister Shah thanked Guterres for his goodwill and support for Nepal and congratulated him on his tenure.

During the meeting, Shah highlighted the extensive damage caused by the Bhotekoshi disaster and said the risk of glacial lake outburst floods remains high in Nepal.

The two sides also discussed the relocation of communities living along riverbanks and the need for green and climate-resilient reconstruction.

Nepal’s graduation from the Least Developed Country category was also discussed, including the possibility of extending the transition period and securing international support for the process.

Prime Minister Shah is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly early Friday morning, with climate change and climate justice expected to feature prominently in Nepal’s message.