Nepali delegates at the 2024 annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) emphasized Nepal’s commitment to multilateralism for achieving national development objectives.
During a session on ‘Global Development Initiative (GDI): Promoting World Peace,’ Bishnu Prasad Paudel, former Deputy Prime Minister and vice-chair of CPN-UML, expressed Nepal’s dedication to actively participating in discussions within the GDI framework and other international forums.
Paudel highlighted the importance of collaboration with China and like-minded partners to advance a universal development agenda beneficial to all.
The GDI, proposed during the 76th Session of the United Nations General Debate in September 2021 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, prioritizes development commitment, a people-centric approach, inclusive benefits, innovation-driven growth, environmental harmony, and result-oriented actions. Aligned with Nepal’s development goals, Paudel praised China’s leadership in launching the GDI.
Emphasizing the need for cooperation, knowledge sharing, and innovation promotion, Paudel stressed that collaborative efforts in infrastructure, technology transfer, and capacity building would accelerate Nepal’s development endeavors.
He underscored the importance of addressing concerns such as transparency and debt sustainability to ensure the GDI’s success, advocating for concessional financing and tailored projects for developing countries.
Dr. Rupak Sapkota, Foreign Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ highlighted Nepal’s commitment to multilateralism and concerns regarding increasing political polarization.
Sapkota urged the international community to support Nepal’s transition from least developed to developing status, tackle climate change disasters, and achieve overall economic prosperity.
The BFA’s 4-day conference, themed ”Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Shared Responsibilities,” convened over 2,000 delegates from around 60 countries in China’s coastal city of Boao.
Secretary General Li Baodong announced the conference’s achievement of carbon neutrality and highlighted consensus on solidarity, cooperation, and multilateralism to address global challenges, promote fairness in trade, provide green financing to developing countries, and foster technological innovation while mitigating risks.
Established in 2001, the BFA serves as a platform for discussing Asian perspectives on economic development and fostering regional economic integration, offering an alternative to the World Economic Forum.
