Nepal renews commitment to global peace

KATHMANDU, APR 18: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala renewed Nepal’s commitment for global peace, stability, democracy, and development. Addressing inaugural session of the international conference on ‘Vision of Bandung after sixty years: facing new challenges’, in Kathmandu, on Saturday, the Prime Minister said Nepal seeks concerted efforts for global peace and development.

“Peace, stability, democracy, and development are interlinked,” Koirala stated, “No enduring peace and stability is possible in the absence of democracy and social justice.”

“Nepal condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he added, “Since this is a transnational challenge, the world must be united to fight this menace resolutely and unequivocally, whenever and wherever it may occur.”

Discussing Nepal’s foreign policy and its historical development, the Prime Minister stated that five principles of Panchasheela include mutual respect for each others’ territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, equal and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.

“Nepal’s opposition to any interference in the internal affairs of any country and its non-interference policy in the internal affairs of others are derived from its unflinching commitment to the principles of peaceful co-existence,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has called for investment in hydropower, tourism, infrastructure and other productive sectors of economy in the nation, assuring necessary safeguards for investment protection.

Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) had organised the conference in Kathmandu before the commemoration of 60 years of the Bandung Conference to be held next week in Indonesia. CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli currently leads the inter-country organisation, which 193 member nations in its fold.