No Peace without Development and No Development without Peace

Prachanda

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No Peace without Development and No Development without Peace

Prachanda

Chairman of Nepal Communist Party and former Prime Minister of Nepal

Distinguished Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,Dear Friends,

It is my great pleasure and honour to participate in the Commemorative Event for the International Day of Peace 2018 organized in this beautiful city of Nanjing.

The theme of the eventis highly relevant as it institutes a strong basis for world peace. I am thankful to the organizers for providing me an opportunity to express my views on this noble endeavour.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,

The world today is inter-related and inter-connected. Globalization and rapid development in information and communication technologies have turned the world into a global village.

Meanwhile, it has also increased human interdependence. Thus, we are bound to share our values and culture, physical environment and technologies, as well as our hopes and aspirations, face together the challenges that a globalised world brings.

We have reasons to be hopeful.

Innovation and advancement of technology in one country helps make the life of peoples across the globe easier.

Rapid and sustainable economic growth in one part of the world creates hope of prosperity for the rest.

Peace and stability in one part of the world injects a sense of encouragement in other parts of the world.

However, the story does not end here.

Fall down of stock market in New York or Shanghai badly shakes the world economy.

Terrorist attacks in New York, Paris or Kabul do not let the peoples, anywhere else, live their life in peace and tranquillity.

Political borders or strong immigration policy cannot stop Ebola virus from crossing the border of a country.

Harmful gases emitted by the industries in developed countries badly affect the climate of non-emitting countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

It is a matter of satisfaction that the international community has largely realized the importance of growing and prospering together for global peace and security.

It is widely recognized that there is no peace without development and no development without peace.

We can say that we are living relatively at a peaceful period of history.

Countries are striving together to achieving lasting peace and maintaining universal security.

Yet, there are some issues to be resolved through collective efforts.

The issue of peace and security is comprehensive and demands a holistic approach to approach it.

Guarantee of decent and dignified life is a prerequisite for peace and security. Inclusive, equitable and sustainable development is the foundation. But tremendous divisions and disparities among nations and peoples are also facts of the day.

Poverty is one of the most dreadful challenges of our time. Millions of people are still living in abject poverty though millions have been lifted out of it over the last few decades. Gap between rich and poor has been widening at an alarming pace.

Prosperity of a few cannot be safe, secure and sustainable while a large section of population is forced to live a life of abject poverty.

Climate change has posed a real threat to human security. Conflicts have already surfaced in different parts due to climate change in the forms of global warming, desertification and water scarcity, among others.

Unless we address the challenges of poverty and climate change, lasting peace and universal security will remain a distant dream.

Terrorism, violent extremism and transnational criminal networks are looming large and spreading fast. Isolationist forces are gaining ground.

I would like to appreciate the leading role taken by China to connect peoples and countries. The Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to integrate markets and create a regional economic cooperation framework of benefit for all, has received wide support from the international community.

Nepal is confident that BRI will help build infrastructure in the Himalayan region and remove the barriers for a seamless movement of people, goods and services in the region.

Moreover, the improvement in transportation and connectivity will help us integrate markets, and reap the benefits of expanded trade and commerce.

With the help of transport infrastructures under the Belt and Road Initiative, Western, Central and Eastern Nepal will be linked with China through transport, energy grids, services and seamless commerce. We believe that such connectivity will enhance productivity and technological upgrade, and create employment for the peoples of our two countries for common prosperity.

Similarly, China's continuous advocacy of peace, inclusive development and win-win cooperation to build a community with a shared future for mankind speaks its vision of shared prosperity. It will certainly help discourage the extremist forces that give birth to instability and insecurity.

I am glad to observe here that His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China has often called on the international community 'to board its express train of development', which is a reflection of China's readiness to walk together on the path to prosperity, peace and security. I believe, inclusive development and shared prosperity are at the core of a harmonious, peaceful and stable society.

On this context we have made collective commitments. SDGs and Paris Agreement on climate change are examples. We have well-established institutions like the UN and other international and regional organizations to facilitate our common agenda for universal peace and security.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

I am happy to share Nepal’s unflinching commitment to world peace and security. Our commitment has been proven through our policies and actions. We uphold the principles of the UN Charter. Our commitment for world peace is enshrined in our Constitution. Universal brotherhood is our age-old value system.

Unique and home-grown peace process of Nepal is a rare example of resolving an armed conflict in a peaceful manner.

Nepal fully understands that our collective and concerted efforts are must for our safe, secure and sustainable future. Our destinies are tied together into a single future for us all. To make it better or worse is all in our hands.

I have the firm belief that this august gathering will come up with concrete ideas to bring the world community to work together to build a community with a shared future and a world of lasting peace and universal security.

I wish the Commemorative Event for the International Day of Peace 2018 a complete success.

Thank you!