Kathmandu – Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal held bilateral talks with Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio, on Wednesday, November 11, on the sidelines of the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
During the meeting, Khanal expressed gratitude to the Finnish government and people for their solidarity and prompt humanitarian assistance following the recent devastating climate-related floods in Nepal.
He briefed his Finnish counterpart on Nepal’s ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts, including the rehabilitation of affected communities. He also highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on people’s lives, livelihoods and fragile mountain ecosystems.
The two ministers exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including the ongoing COP31 negotiations and the importance of stronger international cooperation in addressing climate-related challenges.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Nepal and Finland.
The discussions also explored opportunities to expand bilateral collaboration in trade, investment, energy, connectivity, infrastructure development, forest conservation, technology and climate action.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Nepal to highlight its climate vulnerabilities while seeking stronger international partnerships to support sustainable development and disaster resilience.
