KATHMANDU: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is presently on a four-day official trip to Nepal beginning on Sunday, has said the world should learn a lesson from Nepal’s homegrown practices for the establishment of peace.

In his address to a welcome program organized in his honor at the Pulchowk-based UN Building in Lalitpur today, Guterres said the world should take a lesson from Nepal’s homegrown practices for establishing peace, efforts to conclude the transitional justice and its contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations.

On the occasion, he urged the UN staff in Nepal to assist Nepal to become competitive and successful in each area including the socio-economic sector. He sought the role of UN staff here in Nepal’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs).

He made it clear that his Nepal visit is primarily centered on the matters of concluding the peace process, assisting those affected by the impact of climate change, and facilitating Nepal to graduate to a developing country from the category of the least developed country. He urged that the interests of survivors be prioritized while taking the transitional justice process to a conclusion.

Expressing his concerns about Nepal bearing the brunt of the impacts of climate change including snow melting although it does not have any role in carbon emissions globally, Secretary-General Guterres stressed the need for all stakeholders to take the matter seriously.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Hanaa Singer-Hamdy,  said all assistance would continue for upgrading Nepal to a developing country and achieving sustainable peace as per the UN guidelines and recommendations. The UN continues support to Nepal for the implementation of its constitutional rights and equitable inclusive development, she added.

On the occasion, singer Ani Choying Dolma sang songs related to peace.

Similarly, UN Secretary-General Guterres planted tree saplings on the premises of the UN Building.

Guterres arrived in Nepal on Sunday at the invitation of Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.