The deal was signed during Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recent visit to Kathmandu for the Asia-Pacific Summit 2018, last week.

“Prime Minister Hun Sen and Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli presided over a signing ceremony on the agreement of diplomatic visa exemptions, official passports, commercial flights and political, economic and cultural cooperation,” informed a post on Hun Sen’s Facebook account on December 01, 2018.

The post also read that the Cambodian PM held discussions with Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari on facilitating of direct flights between the two countries.

It is noteworthy that the two countries had also recently signed a new airlines agreement.

The new agreements are expected to expand the existing cooperation between the two countries in the field of commerce, investments and tourism, owing to their proximity.

“This agreement on direct flight will push and promote relations between governments and peoples of both countries. It makes it easier for Cambodians to visit the birth place of Buddha,” Sen reportedly said.

In response, Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli also lauded Sen and his team for visiting the Summit. “The visit of Prime Minister Hun Sen is historically important. Nepal and Cambodia have close and friendly relations,” read Oli’s statement.

As part of the Summit, Sen also presented his ideas on strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations, guarantee long-term peace and development, political facilitation and information distribution, countering extremism and avoiding discrimination.

Sen had also expressed Cambodia’s willingness to open its embassy in Kathmandu without speaking about the exact timelines for implementing the same.

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According to the strategy published by the Ministry of Federal Affairs & General Administration, the model aims to introduce climate change and disaster management into development activities at the lower level.

Emphasizing the role of all three governments in bringing about the desired results, the constitution has also put local levels in charge of disaster risk reduction and disaster management.

The Strategy for Resilient Local Communities 2018 aims to define roles and working areas of the local levels & communities by identifying:

• Disaster and vulnerability
• Disaster preparedness and response
• Disaster risk reduction
• Developing the capacity for promoting resilience

Expected outcomes of the strategy include:

• Local, provincial and federal governments expansion
• Preparation of local emergency management action plan
• Reduction in physical, economic and social loss
• Timely mobilization of volunteers and security agencies for search, rescue & relief operation
• Implementation of the concept ‘Build Back Better’
• Smooth supply of essential goods and services in emergency

Concerned authorities will implement resilience development action in three phases:

• First phase: Identification of vulnerable areas, households and persons, relocation of vulnerable families to safer places, ensuring storage of necessary logistics, medicines, food, search & rescue equipment and insurance of crops and livestock
• Second phase: Capacity development in post-disaster activities including damage assessment, data collection and need assessment of emergency goods and services
• Third phase: Local levels & communities development of capacity to identify and implement the vulnerability mitigation measures

Climate change has been an important concern for Nepal which has been discussed in most conferences such as COP24 and Asia Pacific Summit 2018.

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The whole world is now eagerly watching Nepal for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Summit 2018 that is all set to held on November 30-December 03, 2018.

The Summit is being termed as an event of high significance in the world geopolitical scenario, majorly in bringing a strategic shift in the positioning of Asian nations.

Interestingly, the Summit is coming up just days after the recently-concluded Asia-Pacific trade talks in Papua New Guinea, which ended as a major trade war between the world powers.

Various Asia-Pacific countries have already announced their attendance for the APAC Summit 2018 summit and many others are making their plans.

Asia-Pacific Summit 2018 Highlights

Asia-Pacific Summit 2018 is the first extended international-level summit that Nepal hosted after the BIMSTEC Summit 2018.

The Asia-Pacific Summit 2018 was held on a grand scale with world leaders presenting their keynote addresses and various other attendees and delegates present a wide range of topics such as terrorism, climate change, government-government cooperation, social security, regional development, among others.

• The Summit began with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s inaugural address, where he called on for increased participation and collaboration of governments, private sector and social groups for regional development
• Former Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda addressed the gathering on the issues pertaining to terrorism and climate change, terming them as the world’s biggest challenges in the present scenario
• Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi called on for collaborative work with regard to fighting terrorism, migration and displacement, injustice and, hunger and poverty

Leaders Pitch for World Peace and Climate Change
Addressing the summit, world leaders pitched for measures to tackle poverty and hunger as a means to achieve world peace.

Taking APAC Summit 2018 as the platform, the leaders urged for common agenda and programs in line with changing global context to address common issues.

Citing terrorism and human trafficking among the world’s top challenges, the world leaders called on for increased collaboration among countries to tackle them.

“Collaboration can be the main agenda of peace and development. We have been stressing on it,” said Vice-President of Philippines, Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo.

Head of the State of Samoa Afioga Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II pointed at climate change as a serious concern.

Head of the State of Tuvalu Lakoba Taeia Italeni stressed on the need for safeguarding natural resources for present and future generations, and also give youth a proper direction towards education.

Journalism and Social Media Influence
Renowned journalists from several countries, who took part in the Summit, discussed the role of media in the present context, globally. They raised concerns over the rising trend of fake news all across, attributing to the rise of social media influence.

Social media influence is posing a serious challenge to the reliability of actual media sources, they opined. In this regard, they pitched on the need for self-regulation that supports ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘clean journalism’.

Washington Times president Thomas P McDevitt said that this trend is causing a credibility issue on the information. In this regard, Devitt urged the journalist community to pitch for ‘world peace’ in their ‘new media’ strategy.

Oli Gets ‘Leadership and Good Governance Award’

On the sidelines of the summit, the organizer of the APAC summit 2018 Universal Peace Foundation conferred Prime Minister Oli with the ‘Leadership and Good Governance Award’.  The award appreciates Oli for his efforts in performing a leadership role and ensuring good governance across the country. The rare honor included a certificate of appreciation along with a cash prize of USD 100,000.

In response, Oli said he is receiving this award on behalf of the government and decided to deposit the cash in the state fund for Nepali youth and children’s welfare.

EndNote
The two-day Asia-Pacific Summit, under the theme ‘Addressing Critical Challenges of Our Time: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values’, concluded successfully on December 02, 2018.

The Summit ended with a seven-point Kathmandu Declaration for Peace and Development by Nepal calling the world community to study Nepal’s peace process as an example for conflict resolution.

“The summit appealed to the world community to study Nepal’s peace process where, after a decade of conflict and violence, armed militants handed over their weapons to the United Nations, and together with other democratic parties participated in constituent assembly elections, rewrote the constitution, integrated two armies, restructured the state, formed the federal democratic republic of Nepal—an unprecedented and historic achievement,” reads the declaration.

The declaration called for urgent measures against climate change concerns, women empowerment and creating more opportunities for youth, transforming them into leadership roles.

Other interesting updates about Nepal’s #APACSummit2018

1. Dispute Over Hosting Summit
As the Nepal Government began preparations for the Summit, the prime opposition Nepali Congress criticized the Nepal Government and Nepal Federal Parliament for co-hosting the summit in collaboration with South Korea’s Universal Peace Federation (UPF)’s Nepal chapter. In a press conference, NC termed the act as ‘anti-constitutional’ stating that’s promoting a ‘particular religion’.

“The government decision to co-host an event that preaches a certain religion violates the spirit of the constitution,” NC said in a release.  Meanwhile, following the controversy, UPF retracted its statement on the UPF official site, renaming Nepal as the Summit ‘supporter’ and not co-host.

2. Operation of Vehicles
On account of the Summit, the Government of Nepal has announced that it would operate vehicle movement based on the odd and even number plate system during four days of the Summit, with effect from November 29, 2018. The prime intention is to facilitate the movement of guests.

3. Expenditure for the Summit
Exactly a day before the start of the prestigious Summit came to limelight, the row over the release of funds for the preparations. Going deep into the matter, the Home Ministry had reportedly asked NPR 320 million funds for preparations of the Summit, a month ago. However, the latest report says that the Finance Ministry did not give its nod and handed over only NPR 20 million to the Home Ministry, denying any fund to the Foreign Ministry and the Department of Roads. The Finance Ministry clarified that the requested fund was almost double to what was spent for the BIMSTEC Summit 2018 (NPR 175 million) for deploying resources.

While, it comes to a surprise that the key organizer of the Summit, UPF is spending NPR 200 million to host the conference.

4. Key Delegate Visits
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to pay an official visit to Nepal on the sidelines of the APAC Summit 2018. Kyi’s visit is going to be the first such state visit of a Myanmar Counsellor-level official since June 2014.

In another update, The Philippines Vice-President Leni Robredo has also confirmed her Kathmandu visit on November 28, 2018, for the Summit. Robredo will deliver a keynote address on the first day of the Summit on December 01, 2018.

As the reports say, former Pakistan premier Yusuf Raza Gilani has already left his country to attend the Summit in Nepal. Yusuf Raza Gilani is attending to address the Summit upon a special invitation from Nepal PM Oli through Nepalis peace and re-construction minister and IAPP Asia-Pacific Chairman EK Nath Dhakal and Nepalese Ambassador Sewa Lamsal informed Gilani House Spokesperson.

Former Indian Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, former Vice-President of Afghanistan Karim Khalili, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn, and Head of States from Nauru, Samoa and Tuvalu are among others expected at the event.

The list also includes former Presidents of Palau (Johnson Toribiong), Iran (Hassan Ghafoori Fard), the Marshall Islands (Kessai Note and Christopher J Loeak), Vanuatu (Ati George Sokamanu) and Kiribati (Anote Tong).

Asia-Pacific Summit 2018 is one of the world’s biggest events with over 500 distinguished guests from around 45 countries and 1500 participants from the Asia-Pacific region alone.

5. A Tight 4-Layered Security
Nepal Government is adopting a four-layer security strategy to ensure the security of dignitaries vesting the country for the Asia-Pacific Summit 2018. Under the plan, around 3,500 police personal are being deployed in Kathmandu. Nepal Army will take charge of the central security layer besides coordinating with the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the National Intelligence Department (NID) in other security aspects.

According to the security personnel, the same technical equipment used for BIMSTEC 2018 will be applied for this Summit as well. For the first time, Nepali police are also planning to use drones for tight security at the event venue.

6. Special Cover to Myanmar Official
Nepal human rights are eagerly about the visit of Myanmar Counsellor & Minister of Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi, who is set to arrive in Kathmandu for a two-day visit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Summit. As the reports say, human rights agencies are pushing the government to seek the Kyi’s attention to discuss on repatriation of Rohingya refugees in Nepal.

Nepal Human Rights Commission has already requested the government to make their stand clear to the Myanmar Counselor on the safe departure of their refugees in Nepal. Towards this end, the rights bodies are also urging the government to seek international support in this issue. Worried about rights body statements, Nepal Government is planning a security measure to San Suu Kyi.

7. Asia-Pacific Summit 2018: Organizers and Agenda
The Asia-Pacific Summit 2018 will primarily focus on the peace process, conflict, climate change, along with strengthening marriage and family system, alongside supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UPF is the prime organizer of the event, which will also be supported by other partners and supporters including the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace and the International Conference of Asian Political Parties. This is going to be the next big summit for Nepal in the year after the BIMSTEC 2018!

Photo Highlights

1.Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressing the Asia-Pacific Summit 2018

2. Myanmar State Counselor & Minister of Foreign Affairs Aung San Suu Kyi in Nepal for the Asia-Pacific Summit

3. Nepal Defense Minister Ishwor Pokharel welcomes Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen in Kathmandu on his arrival

4. Public wait on roads as a result of the odd-even number plate system announced by the government to facilitate free vehicle movement for delegates attending the Summit

The post Asia-Pacific Summit 2018: A Glance at Latest Updates appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The Government of Nepal is gearing up to host the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Summit 2018 that is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from November 30-December 03, 2018.

The conference will shed light on key areas and critical challenges including independence, mutual prosperity and universal values, and ways to achieve and address them.

The #APACSummit2018 Nepal will also host various other discussions on diverse topics such as climate change, good governance, conflict resolution, strengthening marriage & family institutions, in line with the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

APAC Summit 2018
The summit will see the participation of Heads of States and governments, eminent personalities, subject matter experts, businessmen and leaders of civil society belonging to various nations.

Former Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar is heading the APAC Summit 2018 Nepal invitational committee, which also has various other key personalities from Asia-Pacific region as its members.

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is principal organizer of the event that will also be supported by various other global institutional bodies such as the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) and the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

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