Minister Dr Rana Returns Nepal After Participation in FAO Session

Kathmandu: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba returned to Nepal on July 11 after participating in the 44th session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) held in Rome, Italy. She also took part in the High-Level Ministerial Conference organised on the sidelines of the conference.

Dr. Rana addressed the main session of the FAO Conference held from June 28 to July 4, as well as other high-level sideline meetings and programmes. During the meetings, she informed that Nepal has recognised the right to food as a fundamental right and the laws on the right to food and food sovereignty have provided a legal basis for its implementation.

She highlighted Nepal’s recent legislative developments, including Nepal’s Food Safety and Quality Act (2024) and the Food Safety and Quality Control Policy, which aim to ensure safe and quality food through regulatory standards, lab surveillance, and consumer protection.

She emphasised the guarantee of the right to food and nutrition to citizens of Small Island Developing States (SIDs), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). 

Dr. Rana drew the attention of the world community to the increasing impacts of climate change that vulnerable countries like Nepal are facing. She also urged the international community to support sustainable agriculture systems and climate finance for Nepal and other mountainous and landlocked countries. She requested the guarantee of grant-based international climate finance for Nepal, especially for its mountainous regions struggling with the impacts of climate change.

During her subsequent visit to Germany, Dr. Rana held a bilateral meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann David Wadephul in Berlin, discussing a wide range of bilateral issues, including Nepal-Germany relations, mutual interests, and common global concerns.

She stressed the need for collective efforts to further promote bilateral trade between Nepal and Germany, and encourage and promote networks between the private sectors of both countries. She also urged Germany to invest in areas including chemical fertiliser production.

She proposed a direct flight between Nepal and Germany, sharing Nepal’s ongoing preparations for a smooth and sustainable graduation from a least developed country by 2026. She expressed Nepal’s expectation of continued support in the form of resources, technology and financial support from Germany, the European Union and other partners.

Similarly, she also sought Germany’s role in removing the European Union’s aviation safety ban on Nepali airlines, expressing concerns that the ban has seriously affected the promotion of tourism.

Dr. Rana informed that the Government of Nepal has tabled two bills in the parliament to restructure the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal in line with global best practices, following the recommendations of the EU and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Additionally, she requested Germany’s support for Nepal’s candidacies for key positions in international bodies, especially for membership in the UN Human Rights Council (2027 to 2029), the Economic and Social Council (2029 to 2031), and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2037 to 2038).

Upon her return to Nepal this morning, Dr. Rana was welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and other high-ranking officials from the Ministry.