Sep 12, Kathmandu - Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal emphasized that environmental and natural disasters in the Himalayan region are not confined to a single country but are shared challenges that transcend borders. Speaking at the Kasthamandap Dialogue in Kathmandu on Saturday, Minister Khanal expressed his sorrow over recent floods in the Bhote Koshi River and extended gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their humanitarian aid and solidarity.

He highlighted that although political borders divide nations, the Himalayas and their ecological systems are interconnected beyond these boundaries. “Environmental shocks and natural disasters require a collective responsibility, coordinated preparedness, and regional cooperation,” he stated.

Discussing Nepal-China relations, Minister Khanal reiterated Nepal’s commitment to the One China Policy, emphasizing that geography alone does not determine the future of bilateral relations. He underscored the longstanding cultural, trade, and community ties between the two nations, maintained through centuries of cross-border exchanges.

Khanal reaffirmed Nepal’s stance that its land will not be used against China’s legitimate security interests. He called for transforming long-standing friendly relations into practical cooperation, focusing on enhancing border connectivity, facilitating trade, technological collaboration, and shared prosperity.

Highlighting the benefits of China’s advancements in technology and innovation, he stressed the importance of expanding cooperation in laboratories, research, innovation, and knowledge exchange to leverage Nepal’s demographic dividend into productive sectors.

Furthermore, Minister Khanal stressed that environmental considerations must be prioritized in Nepal-China border management. He advocated for advancing ‘Ecological Border Management’ alongside traditional border control concepts.

He concluded by emphasizing the need for increased collaboration in shared risk management in the Himalayan region, expanding border connectivity, and building disaster-resilient infrastructure to address common challenges effectively.