PM Shah to make brief New York trip for UN General Assembly

Prime Minister Balendra Shah will make a short trip to New York after all, changing an earlier decision to skip the annual United Nations gathering following devastating floods in Nepal.

Shah will lead Nepal’s delegation to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He and his delegation are scheduled to leave Kathmandu on September 22, arrive in New York on September 23 and return on September 26. The visit will include only a limited number of engagements.

His speech to the General Assembly is expected to highlight the adverse effects of the climate crisis and call for stronger climate action and climate justice. Shah decided to attend after floods hit the Bhotekoshi River on August 26, with the aim of drawing international attention to Nepal’s plight.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal will travel ahead of Shah and attend several meetings. Preparations are also under way for Shah to take part in a high-level meeting on climate action and a just transition, convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on September 23. Because Shah is due to arrive that day, it remains unclear whether he can attend, although an invitation has been received.

US President Donald Trump has also invited heads of state and government attending the General Assembly to a reception on the evening of September 23. Officials said Shah’s brief stay leaves little room for bilateral meetings, and no concrete requests or decisions have yet been made about whom he will meet.