Minsiter Saud calls for responsible actions for a healthy Indian Ocean

KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Prakash (NP) Saud, has highlighted the Indian Ocean as a gateway to international markets for landlocked countries like Nepal.

Addressing the Plenary Session of the 6th Indian Ocean Conference held in Dhaka on Saturday, Saud emphasized the natural connection between mountains and oceans and stressed the urgent need to address the impact of climate change on these vital ecosystems. He highlighted the profound effects of climate change on both coastal and hinterland states, emphasizing the importance of collective action to mitigate its consequences.

Calling for collaborative efforts, Minister Saud urged countries to work together to ensure real, robust, and responsible actions for a healthy Indian Ocean and a peaceful, prosperous, and resilient future for the region.

Earlier in the day, Hon. Foreign Minister Saud, along with other Ministers and Heads of Delegation, paid tribute to the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, during a visit to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka.

On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Saud held separate meetings with prominent officials including Takagi Kei, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan; Dr. Mohamed Maliki bin Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Education of Singapore’ and Afreen Akhter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States.

The meetings focused on matters of mutual interest, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.