KATHMANDU – Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held talks in Kathmandu on Sunday on the ongoing search, rescue and relief efforts following the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood of August 26, as well as ways to further strengthen bilateral relations.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singha Durbar, also focused on efforts to locate and rescue South Korean nationals reported missing after the flood. Minister Khanal expressed gratitude to the South Korean government for deploying an inter-agency rapid response team and the Korea Disaster Relief Team to assist with search and rescue operations in the affected areas.
Khanal also thanked South Korea for providing humanitarian assistance and relief supplies to flood-affected communities. He said post-disaster reconstruction remains a high priority for Nepal and that the government plans to rebuild damaged infrastructure under the “Build Back Better” approach, with greater emphasis on safety, sustainability and resilience against future disasters.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said South Korea is ready to provide necessary support for Nepal’s post-disaster reconstruction and recovery efforts. He also highlighted the growing impact of climate change on countries such as Nepal and said the international community has a responsibility to address the loss of lives, infrastructure and livelihoods caused by climate-related disasters.
Cho stressed the need for Nepal and South Korea to work together at international forums, including the UN climate change conferences (COP), to draw greater attention to the challenges faced by vulnerable countries. He also expressed South Korea’s willingness to support Nepal’s efforts to secure international financial assistance for losses and damages linked to climate change.
During the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the long-standing friendship, mutual trust and cooperation between Nepal and South Korea. They agreed to continue working closely to expand bilateral ties and cooperation in areas of shared interest.
Nepal and South Korea have established cooperation in labour migration, development partnerships, trade, investment, technology and people-to-people relations. The search and rescue assistance, humanitarian support and relief materials provided by South Korea following the recent flood have further strengthened cooperation and solidarity between the two countries.
