Press Release
The Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ addressed the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held in Kampala, the Republic of Uganda, on the theme of “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence” today.
The 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of NAM is being hosted, on 19 and 20 January 2024, by the Chair of NAM, President of the Republic of Uganda H.E. Yoweri K. Museveni. The Summit has brought more than 120 countries together on a platform of profound historical significance to enhance their collaboration and devise a way forward in the face of multiple global challenges.
Addressing the Summit, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister underlined Nepal’s longstanding commitment to the principles and values of non-alignment. He highlighted Nepal’s independent, objective, balanced and non-aligned foreign policy rooted in sovereign equality, mutual respect and peaceful settlement of disputes.
Reaffirming Nepal’s solidarity with the Movement, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of NAM to build a harmonized, inclusive, and equitable global order that will tackle the myriad of global challenges such as inequality, poverty, pandemics, climate change, conflict, geopolitical tensions and terrorism.
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister also called on NAM Members to prioritize the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and other development objectives and called on for their cooperation for the reform of global financial architecture and the United Nations for inclusive and just global order.
He envisioned the Movement as a key global platform to assume a defining role in shaping a world order that can deliver security, justice, equity, peace, stability and shared prosperity for all.
‘Prosperity cannot be the privilege of a few. We must create a level playing field within and among the comity of nations,’ he said.
As a graduating LDC and the current Chair of LDCs, the Prime Minister called for enhanced North-South, South-South, and Triangular cooperation to enable LDCs to achieve their development aspirations.
Highlighting Nepal’s successful unique, home-grown peace process, he expressed his determination to secure enduring peace at home through resolving transitional justice once and for all. ‘I believe that peace is possible and so is addressing historical, socio-cultural, and economic injustice both within nations and globally, provided our strong faith and willingness’, he asserted.
The Prime Minister also drew attention to the environmental impact on mountainous countries, urging NAM members to support the protection of mountains and biodiversity. ‘I call upon fellow NAM Members to support our call- the call of the Himalayas’, he said.
The Summit meeting will continue until tomorrow and, upon its conclusion, it will adopt the NAM ‘Outcome Document’, ‘Kampala Declaration and ‘Declaration on Palestine’.
In the evening, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the State Banquet to be hosted by the President of the Republic of Uganda in honour of the heads of the delegations to the 19th NAM Summit.
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister arrived in Kampala on 18 January leading the Nepali delegation to the 19th NAM Summit. Upon his arrival at the airport, he was received by Hon. Esther D. Anyakun, Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees of Uganda, Ms. Sewa Lamsal, Foreign Secretary of Nepal and other senior officials.
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister is scheduled to depart from Kampala in the afternoon of 20 January 2024.
The preceding Ministerial Meeting and Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the NAM were held on 17-18 January and 15-16 January 2024 respectively.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singha Durbar, Kathmandu
19 January 2024