Nepal offers an attractive investment regime and ‘unprecedented opportunities for growth and development’ being wedged between India and China, according to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.
Addressing the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) Conference in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, today, Koirala, also highlighted the country’s priority at present. “Nepal’s topmost priority is to have an inclusive democratic constitution promulgated through the Constituent Assembly to institutionalise democratic gains and establish lasting peace and stability in the country,” he said, adding that democracy is indispensable for development.
Nepal will underscore the need for peace, prosperity and sustainable development, he added.
Stressing on the need to strengthen unity, solidarity, and collaborative partnership among the Asian and African nations to eradicate poverty and hunger, he said that no challenge is more pressing for us than eradicating poverty and hunger, and ensuring dignity to our people.
The establishment of a New Asian-African Strategic Partnership in 2005 reflects Nepal’s commitment to building partnership between the continents for peace, prosperity and progress.
Reiterating Nepal’s commitment to ‘timeless principles’ of the Bandung Conference – as the most important pillar of its foreign policy – he said that the Bandung Principles, inspired by the teachings of son of Nepal Gautam the Buddha as the principle of Panchasheel, is a framework for harmonious conduct of interstate relations. The participating countries are adopting the principle of Panchasheel and have pledged to frame an integrated approach to tackle common challenges while upgrading from the status of developing countries to the developed countries.
Koirala also said that regional unity and cooperation can only achieve the objective of peace, prosperity and sustainable development.
Asia and Africa shares many commonalities, he said, Asia and Africa are two ancient and resourceful continents with vast commonalities amidst diversities. “The year 2015 is critical in terms of future direction of international cooperation, peace, security and development. We have to finalise post-2015 development agenda and an opportunity to conclude a binding agreement on climate change.
Koirala also underlined the shift of gravity of economic activity and balance of power to the South, with a surge in the global attention on Asia and Africa in view of their population dynamics and resource endowments.
The Tenth anniversary Commemoration of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) Conference, in Jakarta, was inaugurated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Heads of states, governments and government representatives of Asian and African countries took part in the inaugural session. The participating dignitaries will discuss bilateral interests and the problems faced by land-locked and developing countries.
In his inaugural speech, Widodo said that the Asian and African countries were treading the path shown by the historic Bandung Conference. He added that the South-South Cooperation can usher in sustainable peace and prosperity.
On the occasion, foreign minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, said that conference will contribute to furthering the consolidation of South-South relations. “The conference will be a landmark in efforts put in by the Asian and African countries for sustaining peace and embarking on a path of prosperity,” Pandey added.
The conference is expected to come up with three major documents – the Bangdung Message, the Revival of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership and the Declaration of the Asian-African Countries’ Support to the Palestine.

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