At UN, Foreign Minister Khanal says it's time to show results on SDGs

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has said the years remaining until 2030 must be turned into a period of intensive implementation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He expressed this view at a high-level meeting held to mark the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

According to Minister Khanal, only about 36 percent of the SDGs are progressing in the right direction. He noted that developing countries face an annual financing gap of about $4 trillion.

He praised China's efforts to translate into practice the GDI proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Nepal has already joined the GDI's Group of Friends.

He said there is potential for cooperation in poverty reduction, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure and digital transformation.

Referring to the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa last Bhadra, he expressed gratitude to China for its support during the disaster, and said Nepal is ready to work with China, the United Nations and all partners in the next phase of the GDI.

At the 50th anniversary meeting of the Group of 77 and China, also held on the sidelines of the General Assembly, he called for reforming the international financial architecture to amplify the voice of developing countries, and said grant-based climate finance is needed to cope with climate-induced disasters.