September 19: Nepal has urged the international community during the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to increase the volume of foreign assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
During the UNGA that kicked off in New York from September 14, Nepal pointed out the need to increase foreign aid in order to uplift the standard of the Least Developed Countries.
Other agendas raised by Nepal include trade facilitation, removal of hassles experienced by LDCs while taking loan, increment in support on transfer of finance and technology and climate change.
Foreign Secretary Bharatraj Poudyal had addressed the 76th session of the United Nations on behalf of the Government of Nepal on Saturday (September 18).
Speaking at a virtual meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA, he discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy. He stressed on equitable, affordable and universal access to vaccines for all.
Foreign Secretary Poudyal said that LDCs must build resilient economies with adequate physical infrastructure, advanced industrial and technological capacity, and expanded social safety-nets to win the war against the virus, eradicate poverty and ensure the well-being of their people.
He also said that the government is working relentlessly to graduate to a developed nation at the expense of the foreign aid it has bee receiving.
"Graduation from LDCs will be a significant achievement to the country and Nepal is committed to making it sustainable and irreversible," he added.
Poudyal stressed the need to complete the unfinished work on the Istanbul Action Plan and formulate future plans for sustainable development while preparing for the 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries happening in Doha next year.
A high-level discussion will be held in the UN General Assembly with the participation of 193 countries from September 21.
The UN General Assembly will run till September 22, with the slogan 'The Future We Want, We Need the United Nations: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism'.
