Kathmandu: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has said that the 9th Indian Ocean Conference has provided Nepal with an important opportunity to further strengthen diplomatic, economic, and strategic relations with the Indian Ocean. Speaking at a press meet held at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) today upon arrival home after participating in the conference held in Port Louis, Mauritius, Minister Khanal said that during the conference Nepal emphasized the need for rules-based maritime governance, common solutions to the challenges of climate change, and coordinated and common efforts for sustainable and resilient development.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Khanal highlighted that the issues of special concern for Nepal as a landlocked country were shared with the international community. He pointed out the need to prioritize regional cooperation and partnership in expanding maritime access and relations. During his visit, Minister Khanal held separate bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Mauritius, Singapore, and Tanzania, and expressed confidence that these meetings would contribute to elevating bilateral relations and interests.
During his statement to the conference, Foreign Minister Khanal reiterated Nepal’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and emphasized that landlocked countries have the right to access the high seas and participate in the maritime economy.