South Asian News Network

Xiong’an (China), Oct 24: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has called for stronger cooperation among Himalayan countries including Nepal, China and India in sharing meteorological data, monitoring glaciers, developing early warning systems and coordinating disaster response. Addressing the 2026 Global Governance Forum in China’s Xiong’an city of Hebei Province earlier today, the former President said that global governance is also linked to climate justice and added that the unprecedented natural disasters Nepal experienced in August have underscored the gravity of the challenge. She noted that the Himalayas are a shared natural heritage connected to regional water cycles, biodiversity and ecological balance. Likewise, she advocated strengthening the United Nations as an effective institution reflecting the diversity and aspirations of the contemporary world, adding that peace and development are mutually reinforcing. Ending poverty and hunger, promoting human well-being and redirecting resources from the arms race towards development are shared responsibilities, the former President added. Delivering her speech in Nepali language, the former President expressed confidence that the Forum would foster meaningful deliberations towards making the global governance system more just, inclusive and effective, while creating new opportunities for cooperation for world peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity. On Nepal-China relations, she noted that the bilateral ties have evolved since ancient times through cultural exchanges, Buddhist philosophy and close people-to-people links. She said the relationship is rooted in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and rests on mutual respect, trust and cooperation, reaffirming Nepal’s unequivocal commitment to the One-China Policy. Likewise, Bhandari said the world is undergoing rapid scientific and technological transformation while facing serious challenges including economic inequality, poverty, geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, climate change and food insecurity. She was of the view that protectionism and unilateral approaches have complicated international cooperation, adding that such shared challenges cannot be resolved by any single nation and require dialogue and collective commitment. The former president said that the international order founded on the UN Charter, international law and multilateralism has contributed significantly to peace and development, but reforms are needed to make it more inclusive, representative, transparent and effective. “Global governance should not be shaped solely by the priorities of a limited number of nations,” she said. “Differences among nations should be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic means,” she added. She further said the success of global governance should be measured by the positive changes it brings to people’s lives. The Forum was inaugurated by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on Friday evening. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s message was also delivered to the 2026 Global Governance Forum. “The world is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, and the deficits in peace, development, security and governance are growing rather than diminishing,” Xi stated. The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) was forwarded to promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system and a better world, read the Chinese President’s message. On the occasion, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang said all countries should uphold the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, keep development at the center of the international agenda, and fully implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He also called for improving governance rules in emerging fields, turning new frontiers such as the deep sea, the polar regions and outer space into areas for international cooperation, and evolving an AI governance structure based on general consensus soon. Hosted by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, the forum is themed “Rebuilding Confidence and Cooperation: Reforming and Improving Global Governance in a Transforming World.” Nearly 400 representatives from strategic, political, academic, business, media, and youth sectors from more than 90 countries and international and regional organizations, including the UN, attended the opening ceremony.