Prime Minister Balendra Shah will make a brief visit to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, with only a limited number of engagements on his schedule.

Shah decided to make a short trip to New York following the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi river on August 26, to attend the General Assembly and draw the international community’s attention to Nepal’s plight. He had earlier decided not to attend the annual UN gathering, with the government planning to send Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal to lead the Nepali delegation.

Officials involved in preparations for the visit said Shah’s address to the General Assembly will highlight the adverse impacts of the climate crisis and stress the need for stronger climate action and climate justice.

Shah and his delegation are scheduled to leave for New York on September 22 and arrive on the morning of September 23. Khanal will travel to New York ahead of the prime minister and participate in several meetings, according to Foreign Ministry officials involved in preparations for the visits of the two leaders.

Preparations are also underway for Shah’s possible participation in a high-level meeting on climate action and just transition scheduled for September 23 during the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is convening the meeting. However, as Shah is scheduled to arrive in New York that day, it remains unclear whether he will be able to attend. An invitation from the secretary-general has been received, an official said.

US President Donald Trump has also invited heads of state and government attending the General Assembly to a reception on the evening of September 23.

There is little scope for bilateral meetings during Shah’s short stay, officials said. No concrete requests have been received or decisions made yet on whom the prime minister will meet.

Shah is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on September 26 after concluding his brief engagements in New York.