New York- Prime Minister Shah was welcomed in New York by Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa; Nepal’s Acting Ambassador to the United States, Sharad Raj Aran; and Consul General of the Nepali Consulate General in New York, Dadhiram Bhandari. Prime Minister Shah’s delegation includes Chief Advisor Kumar Ben and other members.
As Prime Minister Shah has arrived in New York leading a high-level Nepali delegation to participate in the General Assembly, there is considerable interest in his address to the UN General Assembly this time. There is also separate interest in whom Prime Minister Shah will meet—or not meet—during his stay in New York.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Shah is scheduled to address the high-level general debate of the General Assembly on September 24.
A source close to the Prime Minister said that Shah is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres before addressing the General Assembly. His meeting with the UN chief is scheduled to take place before his address to the Assembly.
According to the schedule, 18 heads of state or government are scheduled to speak during Thursday’s daytime session, which falls on Friday morning Nepal time. Prime Minister Balen Shah is scheduled to speak 17th in the order.
According to the General Assembly schedule, each speaker has been allocated 15 minutes. However, heads of government are not necessarily required to finish their speeches within exactly 15 minutes.
Based on the schedule, Prime Minister Shah is expected to deliver his address at around 4–5 a.m. Nepal time on Friday.
“Some leaders speak for a little longer, while others finish within 15 minutes,” the source said. “Accordingly, his turn is expected to come at around 4–5 a.m. on Friday Nepal time.”
The most important general debate of the UN General Assembly began in New York on Tuesday.
On Tuesday morning, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, US President Donald Trump and General Assembly President Dr. Annalena Baerbock, among others, addressed the gathering.
Nepal is currently facing the devastating impacts of climate change. Various discussions are underway regarding how to ensure climate justice for vulnerable countries that are disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters.
Sources said Prime Minister Shah is preparing to speak about the damage caused by climate change and Nepal’s rights and concerns in the context of climate justice. He is expected to present Nepal’s position and priorities on the issue during his address to the General Assembly.
