Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal is scheduled to depart for Fiji on Saturday, October 3, 2026, to participate in a Pre-COP Leaders Event on climate change before traveling to Australia for a bilateral meeting.
Climate Diplomacy in Fiji and Tuvalu
A four-member Nepali delegation, led by Minister Khanal, will attend the Pre-COP Leaders Event in Fiji and Tuvalu on October 5 and 6. This preparatory meeting, organised to advance global dialogue and cooperation on climate change, aims to build momentum for the upcoming 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) and highlight Pacific leadership in climate action. Minister Khanal is slated to address the Leaders Plenary session on October 6 and will also participate in a joint press question-and-answer program with the President of Palau, and the prime ministers of Australia and Fiji.
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the event offers an opportunity to raise issues concerning the impacts of climate change, climate justice, and the specific challenges faced by mountain nations on the international stage.
Bilateral Engagement in Australia
Following the Pre-COP events, Minister Khanal will travel to Australia. He has a bilateral meeting scheduled with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on October 8. The meeting is expected to cover Nepal-Australia relations, bilateral cooperation, and other matters of mutual interest. During his visit, Minister Khanal will also engage with the Nepali community in Australia, attending separate programs organised by the Nepali Embassy in Canberra and the Nepali diaspora in Sydney. He is scheduled to return to Nepal on October 12.
Parliamentary Briefing and Broader Context
On Friday, October 2, 2026, Minister Khanal briefed the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, on Nepal’s participation in the 81st United Nations General Assembly. He highlighted that Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s address during the General Debate had advanced Nepal’s efforts to achieve climate justice. The Minister also informed the House that Nepal held various meetings and discussions with senior officials and foreign counterparts during the General Assembly, which ran from September 9 to 29, 2026. The current session of the federal parliament concluded at midnight on October 2, 2026.
Nepal-Australia Relations
Nepal and Australia established diplomatic relations on February 15, 1960. Australia has consistently supported Nepal in various sectors, including health, education, hydropower, forest management, agriculture, good governance, civil aviation, and livestock management. Recently, Australia provided 11 million Australian dollars in humanitarian aid following floods and landslides in Nepal.
The main COP31 conference is scheduled to take place from November 9 to 20, 2026, in Antalya, Turkey. The names of the President of Palau and the Prime Minister of Fiji were not immediately available.
