KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 8

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has extended greetings and felicitations to the peoples and governments of the SAARC Member States on the occasion of the 39th SAARC Charter Day on Friday.

"The 1980s marked a period of special importance for the South Asian region and its peoples, as leaders of the region interacted intensely and resolved to chart a new path of regional integration and development in economic, social, cultural, scientific, and technical fields. It generated a sense of hope in the peoples of South Asia for shared prosperity," PM Dahal reminded.

In a message of best wishes, PM Dahal further stated that the ideals set forth in the Charter have immense potential for development and cooperation. Matched by solid commitments and effective collective action, they remain as promising as they were at the time of formation.

"The need for closer cooperation is ever greater, given the still-existing challenges like poverty, malnutrition, and new and emerging challenges such as climate change, cyber security, and natural disasters exacerbated by adverse climate," he emphasized.

He reinforced the values of understanding, trust, solidarity, and cooperation as enshrined in the SAARC Charter through common efforts and harmonious actions.

As a founding member and Chair of SAARC, Nepal is fully committed to doing its part to energize the SAARC process and make it more vibrant, effective, and result-oriented, PM Dahal vowed."