Kathmandu, May 30 : Foreign Secretary and the Head of the Nepali Delegation to the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) Sewa Lamsal discussed matters related to SIDS and Least Developed Countries (LDS) with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, Everly Paul Chet Greene.   

 
During the meeting held on Wednesday at St John’s at the sidelines of SIDS4, matters related to Nepal-Antigua and Barbuda relations, implementation of Internationally Agreed Development Goals, including Sustainable Development Goals, Doha Programme of Action, Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS were discussed.    

They also expressed the need for solidarity among countries in special situations to fight against common global problems such as climate change, according to a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations, New York.    

They held discussions on Nepal-UN partnership, Nepal’s graduation from the LDC category, UN’s contribution to Nepal’s development efforts, issues related to climate change, and the importance of effective multilateralism, among others.   

 
The Conference is being held under the theme of “Charting the Course Towards Resilient Prosperity” in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda from 27 to 30 May 2024 and will conclude today with the official closing ceremony.  

  
The Foreign Secretary is scheduled to depart for home today itself.    
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Lamsal had delivered a statement at the General Debate of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States on behalf of the group of LDCs.    

In the statement, the Foreign Secretary underlined the high cost paid by the countries in special situations due to climate change and urged the international community to support them.    
She also congratulated SIDS for adopting ambitious and action-oriented Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) and expressed LDCs’ solidarity with SIDS.  (RSS)