KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 8 President Ramchandra Paudel has said that political stability is essential for sustainable development, prosperity and social justice. He made the remarks while inaugurating the silver jubilee function of the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) and the Nepal Indigenous Knowledge Conference here today. 'Political stability is utterly necessary for the country's sustainable development, prosperity and social justice. We must not forget that such stability is only possible when the state ensures inclusive governance and gains the trust of all castes and communities,' the President said. He noted that Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multilingual, multicultural and multi-religious nation and, as reflected in the national anthem, resembles a beautiful garden of diverse flowers. 'To make this garden more beautiful, prosperous and balanced, equal access, equal opportunities and equal respect for all castes, languages, cultures and communities are essential. This is also the goal envisioned by our Constitution,' President Paudel added. The Head of State said the languages, scripts, cultures, traditions, value systems, knowledge practices and religious beliefs of indigenous communities are not merely cultural assets but invaluable foundations of Nepal's national identity. He emphasised that the state must play a more effective policy, institutional and structural role in their protection, promotion and development. 'Indigenous knowledge systems are not limited to tradition alone. They also serve as pillars of cultural identity, environmental protection and sustainable development,' he said. He further added that the traditional knowledge, agricultural practices, arts, languages, worldviews and spiritual traditions of Nepal's indigenous communities constitute a living national asset that guides society towards coexistence, tolerance and prosperity. President Paudel expressed hope that the conference would contribute significantly to placing indigenous knowledge at the centre of intellectual and policy discourse. He also extended his best wishes that the historic silver jubilee would inspire stronger integration of indigenous knowledge, culture and identity into the mainstream of national development.