Message to the nation from
His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
on return home after participation
in the Second South-South Summit held in Doha,
State of Qatar and a friendly visit
to the United Arab Emirates
(June 22, 2005)

Beloved countrymen,

We are happy to return home today after attending the Second South Summit of the Group of 77 and China held in Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar. En route home, we also paid a friendly visit to the United Arab Emirates.

We believe that our visit to Doha to participate in the Summit at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has been successful. The conference provided us an opportunity to, once again, reiterate in the international fora Nepal's views and commitments, while emphasizing the need to overcome the problems and challenges facing the developing world. We are confident that countries like Nepal will benefit from the discussions on the problems facing the least developed and land-locked nations as well as the implementation of the commitments enshrined in the Doha Declaration.

The interactions we had with the head of states and governments in the course of the Summit have contributed to consolidating the friendly ties existing between Nepal and these countries. The exchange of views we had with the Emir of Qatar will, we are confident, add a new dimension to the ties of friendship between our two countries and provide an additional impetus to the economic and commercial relations.

Our visit to the United Arab Emirates has further consolidated the cordial and friendly relations between us. We are confident that the exchange of views we had with His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has contributed to the further expansion of these relations.

We thank Chairman of the Council of the Royal Representatives our son His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev and other members for discharging duties on our behalf during our absence. We also take this occasion to thank our beloved countrymen for their cooperation, remaining disciplined in the overall interest of the motherland.

May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!

Jaya Nepal!

(Unofficial translation)

Source: Press Secretariat, Royal Palace.