<span style="color: #222222;">The Asia Pacific Summit-2018 began in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal today. The theme of two-day Summit is "Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity, and Universal Values". </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In his inaugural address, Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said the world continues to reel under adverse impact of climate change, natural and man-made disasters, and terrorism. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said to attain the goal of universal peace and harmony, active partnership between governments, private sector and diverse social groups is necessary. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr. Oli added that equity, justice and shared benefit should be the outcome of such a partnership based on the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect and benefit. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In his keynote address, former Prime Minister of India, H.D. Deve Gowda said terrorism and climate change are the biggest challenges of today's world. He said terrorism makes no distinction between borders, genders or religions and magnitude of the threat multiplies when terrorism is state-sponsored. Mr. Gowda further said it can be dealt only by considered global efforts. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">State Counsellor of Myanmar, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stressed the need for collective efforts to tackle terrorism, hunger, migration and displacement, poverty, discrimination and injustice. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">She said there are negative forces everywhere eroding the foundations of peace. She said peace and development are two sides of same coin and peace is very essential for sustainable development. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Around 1500 participants from 45 countries, including India, attending the summit. They will discuss various global issues, including peace, development, good governance and role of parliamentarians, climate change and role of media.</span><br />''