Former Nepali ambassador to China Dr. Krishna Prasad Oli has called for stronger international cooperation to address climate-related disasters in the Himalayas, saying such natural disasters should not be politicized.

In an interview with China Media Group on Friday, Dr. Oli, also a scholar with extensive research experience in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and the Himalayan region, said climate change was contributing to more frequent natural disasters in the Himalayas. He called for efforts to strengthen scientific research, share technology and expertise, and establish regional disaster prevention and response mechanisms.

Noting that Nepal lies entirely within the core area of the Himalayan glaciers and is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as avalanches and flash floods due to its unique geological and climatic conditions, Dr. Oli said the country faces persistent and severe disaster risks and is among the countries and regions most vulnerable to climate-related disasters worldwide.

"There is an urgent need for sustained and in-depth scientific research into the causes, early warning, prevention and mitigation, and post-disaster management of climate-related disasters in the region," he said, adding that China's long-standing expertise and comprehensive capabilities in these areas provide a practical foundation for cooperation with Nepal.

Dr. Oli spoke highly of China's capabilities in Himalayan climate research and disaster response. He said China has long focused on the impact of climate change on the Himalayan region and has accumulated extensive scientific research, practical experience and resources.

It has also developed well-established systems for disaster early warning, emergency response and long-term disaster prevention, with significant results, he added.

Given the geographical proximity and shared interests between China and Nepal, as well as their solid foundation for cooperation, Nepal urgently needs to deepen all-round cooperation with China and draw on China's strengths in technology, expertise, resources and experience to improve its disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities, Dr. Oli said.

He stressed that climate-related disasters in the Himalayas know no borders and that no single country can tackle such systemic risks alone.

Dr. Oli strongly rejected recent attempts by some foreign media outlets and individuals to sensationalize the mudslide disaster and smear China. He said such claims were completely at odds with scientific evidence. Citing studies published in international scientific journals such as Nature, he said research has shown that climate change-induced glacier instability is a key driver of similar disasters in the Himalayan region.

"Attempts to politicize natural disasters completely run counter to basic scientific principles," he pointed out.

Dr. Oli called on all sectors of Nepali society to respect scientific facts, reject bias and misinformation, and take an objective and impartial approach, while working with China to build consensus and further deepen cooperation on climate governance and disaster prevention and mitigation, in order to jointly safeguard the Himalayan region's ecological security and the lives and property of people in both countries.