(fa fede solo il testo effettivamente pronunciato)
I would like to take this opportunity of closing the Bilateral Technical Commission of the Everest K2 program to congratulate both the NAST and the Ev-K2 –CNR team for the outstanding scientific research activities carried out with consistency, determination and passion.
The areas on which their work focuses on (climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental protection and sustainable development) are global challenges of the utmost importance for the International community as a whole.
I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate the Italian consortium COBAT, which has recently brought Italian best up-to-date technologies in the field of solar energy in the Pyramid laboratory established in the Khumbu Valley. I understand the mission was a challenging one, especially because of the high altitudes in which it took place.
The private sector is playing a growing role today in the field of science and technology. Italy appreciates your work, which is crucial for us all. In this respect, Italy is fully aware of the importance of international cooperation in developing science for the benefit of humankind.
For this reason, in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between Italy and Nepal in the field of science and technology signed in 1998, we always attributed a particular attention to the scientific research activities developed within the project Everest K2. In particular, we have always supported the activities carried out by the Everest K2 Committee, both politically and financially. The exchange of researchers participating to the project proved to be an important field of cooperation.
The initiatives realized by the Everest K2 Committee are an important model of international cooperation. I am convinced that only the joint efforts by both national and international institutions and the private sector at global level can provide the most efficient means to tackle the main challenges of our time, in particular climate change and sustainable development.
Thank you very much for your attention.
