UN Secretary-General Embarks on Visit to Everest Region During Nepal Stay

Kathmandu, October 30: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is currently undertaking an official visit to Nepal, is set to embark on an observation tour of the Sagarmatha (Everest) region today. Following this, he will depart for Pokhara later in the afternoon.

The distinguished UN official will travel to the Everest region aboard a Nepali Army helicopter, contingent upon favorable weather conditions. During his visit to the region, he will engage in conversations with local residents to understand the impact of climate change on their daily lives.

Upon his return from the Everest region, the Secretary-General is scheduled to convene a meeting with the UN team in Nepal at the UN House in Lalitpur. Subsequently, he will head to Pokhara in the afternoon.

Secretary-General Guterres is accompanied by Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations to Nepal, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, and other officials representing the UN Headquarters in New York and the United Nations country team in Nepal.

The UN dignitary commenced his four-day official visit to Nepal on Sunday, arriving at 1 am. During his initial day in Nepal, Secretary-General Guterres called on President Ramchandra Paudel at Shital Niwas, where they discussed the enduring partnership between Nepal and the United Nations.

Earlier the same day, the Secretary-General held a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at his office in Singh Durbar. The Prime Minister lauded the Secretary-General for dedicating time from his busy schedule for the official visit to Nepal, emphasizing Nepal’s steadfast commitment to the principles and objectives of the UN Charter. He reaffirmed Nepal’s unwavering belief in multilateralism, with the United Nations as its focal point.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the United Nations’ ongoing support for Nepal’s development initiatives, encompassing poverty reduction, education, maternal and child health, gender empowerment, disaster resilience, climate change mitigation, and the implementation of sustainable development goals. He expressed hope for continued UN support as Nepal advances toward graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

In response, the Secretary-General commended the Prime Minister for the invitation to visit Nepal and acknowledged Nepal’s contributions to UN initiatives and programs, including its longstanding and distinguished involvement in UN peacekeeping operations.

Secretary-General Guterres also held a meeting with Devraj Ghimire, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, where Nepal-UN relations took center stage.

On the same day, the Secretary-General held separate meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Purna Bahadur Khadka, and Minister for Foreign Affairs N.P. Saud. These meetings delved into various aspects of Nepal-UN relations and cooperation.

Secretary-General Guterres also engaged in discussions with former Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress Party Sher Bahadur Deuba and former Prime Minister and leader of the main opposition party in the House of Representatives, K.P. Sharma Oli.

The Secretary-General’s itinerary also included a visit to Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Prime Minister Dahal ‘Prachanda’ hosted an official banquet in the evening in honor of Secretary-General Guterres and his delegation.

During his visit, the UN Secretary-General will journey to the Annapurna Base Camp and Lumbini. Furthermore, he is scheduled to address a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament on October 31, Tuesday, according to the Federal Parliament Secretariat.

Secretary-General Guterres is set to conclude his visit to Nepal on November 1, as he departs from Kathmandu.