Inaugurating a workshop on Nepal’s National Interests: Policies and Recommendations, the prime minister said the country can move forward through establishment of lasting peace only if the political parties forge consensus and cooperation.
The workshop was jointly organized by Center for South Asia Studies and Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
The prime minister said Nepal’s geo-political position makes nationals interests all the more important and Nepal has been giving high priority to relations with India and China.
“We don’t use any card against any neighbor. We want to expand economic, technological, trade and investment ties with both the neighbors. And the country’s best interests can be served through this policy,” the PM said.
“We are extremely serious about the concerns of our neighbors. We have a policy of not letting anyone use our soil against any neighbor. And, we expect same level of cooperation and support from our neighbors,” the PM added.
The PM said that his recent India visit has strengthened multidimensional Nepal-India ties and informed that he plans to visit China soon.
The prime minister also stressed on maximum use of Nepal’s water resources, ensuring food security, reducing climate change impacts, conserve biodiversity and Himalayan ecosystems, and conservation of cultural and archaeological heritage.
At the workshop, UML Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam said timely constitution writing is impossible without political consensus and cooperation. He also said the task is also impossible by keeping the Maoists aside.
At the program chaired by Director of Center for Asian Studies Nischal Nath Pande, resident representative of Konrad Adenauer Foundation Dr Beatrice Gorawantschy spoke about national interests.
The workshop held discussions on working papers presented by Nepali Congress’ Dr Shambhu Ram Simkhada on national interest and foreign policy, commerce secretary Purushottam Ojha on financial stability and trade, former Brig. Gen Ranadhoj Ambuhang on national security and challenges to protection of national interests and former ambassador Prof Dr Mohan Prasad Lohani on definition of national interests.
Related story
Coalition politics in Nepal: Navigating the Challenges of Makin...
