Foreign Minister Khanal Completes 8-Day Visit to New York

Kathmandu. Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen)'s speech at the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations has garnered international attention. He left for New York, USA on the 6th, delivered his address on the 8th, and returned to the country on the 9th. Apart from meeting with the Prime Minister of Australia, Balen returned directly without participating in any other programs. He is also being criticized for leaving important programs and returning to Nepal. Foreign affairs experts have stated that it would have been better if he had stayed for another day or two and returned after holding high-level sideline meetings. Foreign Minister Shishir also reached the General Assembly. Khanal, who went to New York on October 4th, started his meetings and programs the next day. Today, he has departed from there for Nepal. His secretariat informed that Khana will arrive in Kathmandu on Wednesday morning. Foreign Minister Khanal stayed in New York for 10 days (8 days counting travel time), during which he held 25 sideline talks and participated in as many programs. He established diplomatic relations with three different countries. He also signed agreements with four different countries. Former Ambassador Vijaykant Karna says that Foreign Minister Khanal's activeness is commendable. "Perhaps he is the first Foreign Minister of Nepal to work with such maturity and dedication," says Karna, "Prime Minister Balen went and gave a speech and returned, but Foreign Minister Khanal handled the entire front there, which is praiseworthy." Khanal, who went to attend the General Assembly, raised issues of climate change and economic prosperity with everyone he held sideline talks with. He repeatedly called for the world community to support Nepal's interests.

Sideline Talks