Italy visit successful: PM Dahal

KATHMANDU, July 28: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has described his visit to Italy as successful.

Addressing a press conference organized at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) today upon his arrival home on completion of his visit to Italy, the PM asserted the visit was a success in terms of Nepal's active participation in the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) and the important meetings held on its sideline.

"I believe that Nepal's image as an independent, sovereign nation committed to the United Nations and broader multilateralism has been further clearly expressed in the international forum, through the visit," he said.

Stating that he remained very busy during the UNFSS+2, he said he also observed Italy's development in the economic, social and cultural sectors during the visit.

Prime Minister Dahal represented Nepal in the United Nations Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) organized by the UN, the Government of Italy and the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) from July 24-26 in Rome, Italy.

The Prime Minister addressed the official opening session of UNFSS+2 on Monday, 24 July 2023 in the capacity of the Chair of the LDC Group, including the Plenary Sessions on the agenda of School Meals on 24 July 2023 and Food System Transformation in Practice on 25 July 2023.

"During the Summit, I also addressed the session on school meals in the capacity of the Head of Government of Nepal," he said.

PM Dahal said he put forth the problems facing least developed countries to achieve the goals set by 'Agenda-2030' including food security, easy access to sufficient, safe and healthy food, sustainable agriculture development, poverty alleviation and end of hunger before the international community.

"I also highlighted the need for a collective commitment by the international community to raise a hope among the millions of citizens of least developed countries, who are at risk," he mentioned.

He strongly put forth the issues for the need to ensure easy access to technology, fertilizer, market and capital for sustainable and reliable productivity growth and sustain climate change, viewed PM Dahal.

The PM further said, "I, while addressing the Plenary Session on School Meals Powering Food System Transformation, informed the international community about the initiatives taken by the Government of Nepal."

More than 3.3 million children have benefited from this program run with a collaboration between the Government of Nepal and the World Food Program.

Nepal has increased the budget of the Day Meal Program by four folds in the last five years. The Prime Minister shared that he also held bilateral meetings and talks on the sidelines of the Summit.

During the meeting with Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the issues on the friendly relations between Nepal and Bangladesh, mutual and regional assistance, and collaboration between the countries in the international forum. "The Government of Bangladesh is interested in purchasing power generated in Nepal. This important dimension of the economic interdependence is in the phase of implementation," he said.

During the recent visit of the Prime Minister to India, Nepal and India reached an agreement for the former to export power to Bangladesh through the Indian route. "The efforts of opening the door for the export of power are becoming fruitful. There was an important talk with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on this issue," he said.

PM Dahal today returned home after wrapping his seven-day visit to Italy. He was welcomed at the Tribhuvan International Airport by Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Chairperson of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, ministers, and high ranking officers of the government.

The PM had left for Italy on July 22 to take part in UNFSS +2 that took place in Rome, Italy from July 24 to 26. The entourage led by PM Dahal included the PM's private secretary and daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, member of the National Planning Commission Dr Jayakanta Raut, security personnel and media-persons.

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