Kathmandu: Stakeholders have highlighted the need for meaningful collaboration and cooperation to realize the sustainable development agenda in Nepal.
Speaking at a workshop on “Promotion of Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Development in Nepal” organized by China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) coinciding with its 7th anniversary in Nepal, experts from Nepal and China underlined the need of partnership between private and public sector for the lasting change and development.
Prakash Panta, chairperson, Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee of National Assembly said that the SDGs have provided a guideline for development of the countries. Being a signatory country to the SDGs, Nepal should focus its development priorities accordingly, he said, adding that the entire population of the country will benefit if SDGs are implemented.
The positive side in Nepal is that almost all political parties have issued their election manifesto with focus on Sustainable Development Goals, he further said.
He informed that the committee has been rigorously collecting the data to identify Nepal’s status and progress with regard to SDGs implementation. “I am hopeful that the recommendations of the committee will be helpful for the government to prioritize its development activities.”
“Over the past 40 years, China has lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty,” former chief secretary Lila Mani Poudyal said. “This is a tremendous progress that should be appreciated by all.”
The achievements made by China have been globally recognized. Institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have appreciated the efforts made by China in the area of eradicating poverty, he said.
Poverty is a big threat to humanity. It limits the people’s fundamental rights. So, every individual deserves to be lifted out of poverty, he added.
“I was fortunate to have an opportunity to observe China’s modern development from close quarter,” he said. “I strongly believe that Nepal should take advantage by learning from Chinese experience and utilizing the resources China has been providing us.”
Xie Yu, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu said that the global development cause is at a critical juncture for the time being.
China and Nepal have a “Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, he said. “China aid to Nepal is also a long-term cause that requires both sides’ nourishment and constant care.”
Liu Wenkui, executive vice president of CFRD informed that the organization has accorded its priority to at least six Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 1, 2 , 3, 4, 6, and 8.
China and Nepal are close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers and people-to-people exchanges. In the past seven years, we spent more than 7.6 million US Dollars to benefit more than 550 thousand person-times in Nepal, he said.
“We will continue to uphold the philosophy of ‘Love Without Borders, People to People connectivity’, and join hands with Nepal people and make greater contributions to support Nepal develop the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals as soon as possible.” Amid the program, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and CFRD Nepal office jointly unveiled the cooperation for implementation of the project “Support to Schools and Communities in Remote Areas for Pandemic Prevention and Green Recovery in Nepal” under the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Project in Nepal.
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