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Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability of the United Arab Emirates, and Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Al Ghardaqa, President of the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change (AYCCC), have attended the Sagarmatha Sambaad, which is being organized in Kathmandu.

Along with attending Sagarmatha Sambaad, the UAE delegation held a series of high-level meetings with key members of the Nepali government, including Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, the Minister for Forest and Environment, and the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

Matters relating to advancing Nepal-UAE relations, including enhancing cooperation in renewable energy, sustainability, and climate resilience, were discussed on the occasion, said Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The delegation held talks with Abdullah Muksit, a representative of the UNFCCC and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), based in Geneva, who was attending the Sambaad as part of the international delegation.

The discussions centered on enhancing collaboration in areas such as climate change mitigation, renewable energy, sustainable water resource management, and inclusive economic development.

Balalaa has reiterated the UAE’s commitment to expanding its partnership with Nepal, underscoring the shared vision of advancing joint sustainability initiatives and fostering resilience and prosperity across both nations.

This visit marks a pivotal moment in the growing UAE–Nepal partnership, spotlighting shared commitments to addressing global environmental challenges and empowering youth-led innovation through climate diplomacy and long-term cooperation.

Indian Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has emphasized India's unwavering commitment to global climate action and the need for collaborative efforts to safeguard the Himalayas and other mountain ecosystems. He expressed India’s dedication to addressing the global climate crisis. He noted, “It is a profound honour to represent India at this historic gathering. The name Sagarmatha, meaning ‘Head of the Sky,’ aptly encapsulates the majesty and the responsibility we bear in protecting the mountains that form the lifeblood of our planet.”

Yadav appreciated Nepal for hosting the Sambaad and stated that India, with its vast Himalayan region, shares a common ecological and cultural bond with its mountain neighbours. He stressed that South Asia accounts for only 4 percent of historical global CO₂ emissions, despite being home to nearly 25 percent of the global population. The Minister emphasized that the burden of the climate crisis continues to fall disproportionately on developing nations, while developed countries remain far from fulfilling their commitments to climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.

Yadav further emphasized the immense biodiversity value of high-altitude ecosystems like the India and Nepal region. He stressed on the need for enhanced transboundary conservation efforts, calling on all Himalayan nations to collaborate under the International Big Cats Alliance to support joint protection initiatives for species such as snow leopards, tigers, and leopards. “The Alliance aims to foster conservation expertise, fund critical initiatives, and create a knowledge repository for the protection of these iconic species”, he stated.

The Minister also outlined a five-point call for global action to address the shared ecological challenges of mountainous regions.

• Enhanced Scientific Cooperation: Strengthening research collaboration, and monitoring cryospheric changes, hydrological cycles, and biodiversity.

• Building Climate Resilience: Investing in climate adaptation measures, early warning systems for disasters like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and climate-resilient infrastructure in mountain areas.

• Empowerering Mountain Communities: Ensuring that the welfare, needs and aspirations of local communities are at the heart of policy-making and their benefit from green livelihoods and sustainable tourism. Their traditional knowledge is an invaluable resource.

• Providing Green Finance: Making available adequate and predictable climate finance as per the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement for mountain Nations to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies effectively.

• Recognizing Mountain Perspectives: Ensuring that the unique vulnerabilities and contributions of mountain ecosystems are suitably featured in global climate negotiations and sustainable development agendas.

On the sidelines of the Sagarmatha Sambaad 2025, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, where the two leaders engaged in a productive discussion on strengthening India-Nepal cooperation in the field of environment. He also called on the Prime Minister Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli. He conveyed to him greetings from the leadership in India and congratulated him for successfully organizing the first edition of Sagarmatha Sambaad. Both leaders noted the close and friendly relations between India and Nepal which are deeply rooted in historical, cultural, civilizational and people-to-people ties.

The Embassy of Israel in Nepal has celebrated the 77th Independence Day of the State of Israel and the 65th Diplomatic relations between Nepal and Israel on 15 May 2025, hosting a special reception in Kathmandu. The chief guest of the program was Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav.

High-ranking government officials, political leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, media representatives, and friends of Israel joined the celebration.

 Ambassador Shmulik Arie Bass stated, “The strength of Israel lies not only in the military might but in the unity, innovation and the spirit of our people. Together with Nepal, we are committed to improve the reality for a better future for all.”

The Embassy solemnly remembered the Hamas Terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Two moving video testimonies- one from a Nepali survivor, Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary and another from an Israeli survivor, Noa Beer were screened, offering firsthand accounts of the horrors of the Hamas terrorist attack, the brutality they endured and their stories of survival. A heartfelt video message from the sister of Bipin Joshi, the Nepali national still held hostage by Hamas, appealed for his safe release, together with all the audience.

Nepal and Israel established diplomatic relations on 1 June 1960. The Government of the State of Israel established its Embassy in Kathmandu in 1961.

Naaya Aayam Multi-disciplinary Institute (NAMI) held its convocation ceremony at Hotel Yak and Yeti, marking the graduation of 90 students from its undergraduate programs in Software Engineering, Network Engineering, Business Administration, and Environmental Science. The programs are run in affiliation with the University of Northampton (UoN), UK, for over a decade.

The event was chaired by Captain Rameshwar Thapa, with Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba as the chief guest. NAMI’s Academic Head, Nischal Khadka, opened the ceremony, encouraging graduates to move forward with purpose and resilience.

In her address, Deuba highlighted the role of modern technology in preparing students for future challenges. Chairperson Thapa also congratulated the graduates, acknowledging their academic and personal growth.