December 18: Stakeholders have highlighted the need for meaningful collaboration and cooperation to realize the sustainable development agenda of Nepal.    
Speaking at a workshop on "Promotion of Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Development in Nepal" organized by China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) on Friday, experts from Nepal and China underlined the need for better partnership between private and public sectors for lasting change and development.    
Chairperson of Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee of National Assembly, Prakash Panta, said that the SDGs have provided a guideline for development of the countries. As a signatory state to the SDGs, Nepal should focus its development priorities accordingly, he said, adding that the entire population of the country will benefit if SDGs are realized.    
The positive side in Nepal is that almost all political parties have issued their election manifesto with focus on Sustainable Development Goals, he further said.    
Panta also informed that the committee has been working rigorously to collect data to identify Nepal's status and progress with regard to SDGs implementation.

"I am hopeful that the recommendations of the committee will be helpful for the government to prioritize its development activities."    
Also speaking at the event, former chief secretary Lila Mani Poudyal said poverty is a big threat to humanity. As it limits the people's fundamental rights, every individual deserves to be lifted out of poverty. "Over the past 40 years, China has lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty and this is a tremendous progress that should be appreciated by all."    
Poudyal also said that the achievements made by China have been globally recognized. Institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have appreciated the efforts made by China in the area of eradicating poverty. "I was fortunate to have had an opportunity to closely observe China's modern development," he said. "I strongly believe that Nepal should take advantage by learning from Chinese experience and utilizing the resources China has been providing us."    
Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, Xie Yu, said that the global development cause is at a critical juncture for the time being. China and Nepal have a “Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, he said, "China aid to Nepal is also a long-term cause that requires both sides’ nourishment and constant care."    
Executive Vice President of CFRD, Liu Wenkui, shared that the organization has accorded its priority to at least six Sustainable Development Goals including SDGs 1, 2 , 3, 4, 6, and 8.    
“China and Nepal are close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers and people-to-people exchanges. In the past seven years, we spent more than USD 7.6 million to benefit more than 550,000 person-times in Nepal,” he said.    
"We will continue to uphold the philosophy of 'Love Without Borders, People to People connectivity', and join hands with Nepali people and make greater contributions to support Nepal achieve the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals as soon as possible."    
Amid the program, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and CFRD Nepal office jointly unveiled the cooperation framework for implementation of the project "Support to Schools and Communities in Remote Areas for Pandemic Prevention and Green Recovery in Nepal" under the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Project in Nepal.  -- RSS