KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has returned home after an official visit to Australia, where he participated in the high-level ‘Pre-Cop Leaders Event’ on climate change in Fiji and Tuvalu.
During this visit, Australia pledged an additional 15 million Australian dollars in aid for the relief and recovery efforts following the recent floods in Nepal, bringing the total aid to 26 million Australian dollars.
Talking to media upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) today, Foreign Minister Khanal shared significance of this visit in promoting Nepal’s climate sensitivity on the global stage, mobilizing equitable climate finance, and strengthening bilateral relations with Australia.
Invited by the leaders of Australia, Fiji, and Tuvalu, Minister Khanal aimed to build political consensus and advance the global climate agenda ahead of the 31st Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-31) scheduled for next November in Antalya, Turkey.
In his address at the ‘Pre-Cop Leaders Plenary’ in Fiji, he highlighted the interconnected climate challenges faced by Himalayan and Pacific island nations, referring to the recent floods in Nepal as a ‘Himali Tsunami’ and underscoring the disproportionate impact of climate change on countries that contribute minimally to the crisis.
Minister Khanal outlined four key priorities for COP-31, which include a commitment to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, securing grant-based adaptation finance without increasing debt burdens, effectively deploying loss and damage funds, and fostering partnerships from ‘Mt. Everest to the Sea.’ His visit to Tuvalu allowed him to observe areas at risk of sea erosion and to draw parallels between the climate risks faced by the Himalayan region and those of Pacific island nations, thereby advocating for a unified stance on climate justice. Additionally, he noted that issues related to glacier and ice sheet erosion were incorporated into the ‘Taku Pakasoa Manifesto’ released during the ‘Pre-Cop’ event.
On October 8, during bilateral discussions in Melbourne, Australia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed condolences for the recent flood disaster in Nepal and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to support the affected region. In addition to the previously announced A$11 million in humanitarian aid, Australia has pledged an additional A$15 million, bringing the total aid for Nepal’s disaster response to A$26 million.
The talks also covered important topics such as climate cooperation, glacier monitoring, and the modernization of early warning systems, alongside enhancing technical partnerships for climate-resilient infrastructure. Minister Khanal advocated for a more accessible and predictable Australian student visa process for Nepalese students and proposed increased cooperation in technical and professional education, joint research initiatives, and scholarship opportunities through Australia Awards.
Discussions also included potential collaboration in hydroelectricity, renewable energy, technology transfer, sustainable agriculture, tourism, and attracting Australian investments, as well as establishing direct air links between the two nations.
Furthermore, Minister Khanal met with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns to explore lessons from New South Wales’ experiences in flood and fire management, emphasizing the importance of disaster management cooperation.
The discussions between Nepal and Australia encompassed various collaborative initiatives, including potential study visits and technical exchanges between disaster management agencies. The operationalization of the Western Sydney International Airport opened avenues for expanding direct air links with Nepal, alongside support for the Nepali community’s language, culture, and community center.
Minister Khanal engaged with Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn to address Nepal-Australia relations, the interests of Nepali students, and the support for Nepal’s climate agenda at COP-31. He also held virtual discussions with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor and met MP Alex Haque to explore educational cooperation and bilateral relations. During his visit, Minister Khanal interacted with over 200,000 members of the Nepali community in Australia, including academics, business professionals, and students.
He encouraged the diaspora to leverage their skills and knowledge for Nepal’s post-disaster reconstruction, emphasizing the need for approximately five billion US dollars for this effort. He called for active participation from the Nepali community in the reconstruction process and expressed his commitment to enhancing consular services for Nepali abroad, ensuring they are efficient and user-friendly.
Additionally, Minister Khanal inspected the Nepali Embassy in Canberra, prioritizing economic diplomacy and service delivery. He instructed embassy officials to streamline consular services for students and citizens, while also focusing on attracting quality investments from Australia, boosting bilateral trade, and promoting tourism. Overall, the visit was instrumental in strengthening Nepal’s climate diplomacy, garnering support for reconstruction efforts, and advancing bilateral agendas in trade, investment, education, and air connectivity. (RSS)
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