Vice chair of National Planning Commission Dr. Govinda Raj Pokharel and Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, jointly launched the 2014 Nepal Human Development Report. The report focuses on ways to unlock human potential and reduce regional inequalities. To reduce the inequalities, the report recommends enhancing the rate of economic growth without compromising the essential quality of inclusiveness in both regional as well as ethnic terms. Presenting the highlights of Nepal Human Development Report 204, team leader Dr. Pitamber Sharma revealed the growing disparities existed in Nepal’s various regions. During the launching program, vice chair of NPC Dr. Govinda Pokharel, Secretary Dr. Som Lal Subedi, Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific also highlighted the importance of the report. Similarly, UN Resident Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick delivered vote of thanks. Xu arrived for a four day visit on May 14 to gain firsthand knowledge of Nepal’s current development situation and offer UNDP’s continued support to Nepal. This is Xu’s first visit to Nepal since assuming his current position in September last year. According to a press release issued by UNDP, While in Nepal, Xu will meet with the Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Chairman of Constituent Assembly Subas Chandra Nembang, Minister for Finance, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety, Vice Chair of National Planning Commission, Dr. Govinda Pokharel, Secretary General, SAARC Arjun Bahadur Thapa, development partners, civil society representatives and members of the UN country team. During his meeting with the Government, development partners and members of civil society organizations, Xu will underscore importance of expediting investment in human capital to achieve LDC graduation target by 2022 and completing Nepal’s complex transition process at the earliest.