Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba returned home on Friday after participating in the 44th session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) held in Rome, Italy. She also attended the High-Level Ministerial Conference organised on the sidelines of the event.

Deuba addressed the main session of the FAO Conference, which was held from June 28 to July 4, as well as other high-level sideline meetings and programmes.

During the meetings, she informed that Nepal has recognised the right to food as a fundamental right and the laws on the right to food and food sovereignty have provided a legal basis for its implementation, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Deuba drew the world community’s attention to the increasing impacts of climate change that vulnerable countries like Nepal face. She also urged the international community to support sustainable agriculture systems and climate finance for Nepal and other mountainous and landlocked countries.

Deuba held a bilateral meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann David Wadephul in Berlin during her visit to Germany. They discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including Nepal-Germany relations, mutual interests, and common global concerns.

She stressed the need for collective efforts to promote bilateral trade between Nepal and Germany further and encourage and promote networks between the private sectors of both countries.

She also urged Germany to invest in areas including chemical fertiliser production.

She proposed a direct flight between Nepal and Germany, sharing Nepal’s ongoing preparations for a smooth and sustainable graduation from a least developed country by 2026.

She expressed Nepal’s expectation of continued support in the form of resources, technology and financial support from Germany, the European Union and other partners.

She also sought Germany’s role in removing the European Union’s aviation safety ban on Nepali airlines, expressing concerns that the ban has seriously affected tourism promotion.