KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has expressed confidence that the Ninth Indian Ocean Conference has provided Nepal with an important opportunity to further strengthen its diplomatic, economic and strategic ties with the Indian Ocean region.

Speaking at a press conference held at Tribhuvan International Airport upon his return home today after attending the conference in Port Louis, Mauritius from April 11 to today (April 13), Minister Khanal shared this view.

He said that during the conference, he underscored the need for rules-based maritime governance, collective solutions to the challenges of climate change, and coordinated and shared efforts for sustainable and resilient development.

As a landlocked country, Khanal noted that Nepal’s specific concerns were clearly presented to the international community, emphasizing the need to prioritize regional cooperation and partnerships to enhance maritime access and expand engagement.

On the sidelines of the visit, the minister held separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius and Tanzania. He expressed confidence that these meetings would help elevate various dimensions of bilateral relations and mutual interests.

Earlier, while addressing the conference, he noted that Nepal, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, remains committed to its provisions. He emphasized that landlocked countries have the right to access the high seas and participate in the maritime economy.