KATHMANDU, April 24: UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met President Ramchandra Paudel during a courtesy call at the President's Office, Shital Niwas, on Wednesday.
Sheikh Al Nahyan arrived in Nepal on Tuesday for a two-day official visit.
During the meeting, President Paudel urged all nations to accelerate their efforts against climate change. He also called on resource-rich countries to extend technical and financial support to vulnerable nations for tackling climate change and addressing its impacts.
President Paudel's Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel said the President told the visiting UAE leader that he has consistently advocated for climate justice on global platforms and highlighted how Nepal continues to suffer from the impacts of climate change.
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The President pointed out that both Nepal and the United Arab Emirates-one a mountainous country and the other a coastal nation-face common risks from the adverse effects of climate change. He emphasized that climate-induced disasters have further strained Nepal's already limited resources.
President Paudel thanked the UAE for creating employment opportunities for over 400,000 Nepalis. He said, "The United Arab Emirates has become a second home for more than 400,000 Nepalis. They are also serving as a living bridge to strengthen people-to-people ties between our two countries. I sincerely thank you for offering such vast employment opportunities to Nepalis in your beautiful country."
President Paudel highlighted that the United Arab Emirates ranks as Nepal's fourth-largest trading partner and emphasized the need to boost private sector involvement to unlock the vast potential for expanding bilateral trade.
He urged the UAE delegation to encourage Emirati investors to explore opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, hydropower, infrastructure development, tourism and hospitality, information technology, and services.
He also thanked the UAE for its humanitarian gesture of granting amnesty and releasing 18 Nepali prisoners last month during the holy month of Ramadan and the festival of Eid, calling it a commendable and friendly act.
On the occasion, UAE Deputy Prime Minister Al Nahyan acknowledged and appreciated President Paudel's remarks on climate justice and affirmed that he would treat those sentiments as guiding principles. "Addressing climate change is difficult, but since it is a man-made problem, we must take responsibility and hand over a beautiful world to future generations," Al Nahyan said, according to President Paudel's Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel.
Al Nahyan highlighted the numerous opportunities for cooperation between Nepal and the UAE and stressed the importance of continued efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. He said, "Nepal and the UAE have great potential to elevate and deepen their relationship. On behalf of the UAE government, I reaffirm our commitment to realizing this potential."
