India, Sept. 26 -- Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah placed India and China at the centre of his first address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), proposing a trilateral mechanism to strengthen climate resilience across the Himalayan region.

Addressing the 81st UN General Assembly, Shah called for the creation of a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China. He proposed cooperation on satellite data sharing, early-warning systems, monitoring of dangerous glacial lakes and disaster preparedness. "The Hindu Kush Himalaya is home to nearly two billion people," Shah said, highlighting the region's importance to water, agriculture, ecosystems and livelihoods.

Shah's proposal came after devastating floods...