Kathmandu, Aug 27
Nepal
and China have reached a consensus to expedite the implementation and
development of China-funded projects in Nepal.
In
a video conference meeting held between the Ministry of Finance of Nepal and
China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) on Thursday, the leaders
of the two countries agreed to enhance the collaboration to complete the
projects in time.
"During the meeting,
comprehensive discussions were made regarding the implementation status of the
China-funded development projects in Nepal and the upcoming initiations needed to
be taken from both sides for expediting the implementation of the pipeline
projects," said the MoF.
Secretary of the MoF Sishir
Kumar Dhungana highlighted the status of various projects and said, “It is
gratifying that the projects undergoing with the grant assistance and
concessional loan from China are being smoothly implemented and we are
committed to taking the partnership to a newer height with China.”
He said that both the countries
needed to jointly coordinate to resolve the existing issues related to the
execution of different projects and facilitate for the construction of the projects
in the stipulated time.
Vice Chairman of CIDCA Deng
Boqing said that China had already taken initiatives to resolve the issues
related to the execution of the on-going projects and was committed to carrying
forward the important pipeline projects whose preparatory works have been
already finalised by the Nepal government.
He also elaborated the plans
related to the improvement of Araniko Highway and the Ring-Road Improvement
Project (Phase II), which is going to be initiated soon.
Nepal has requested the CIDCA for
the earlier initiation from the Chinese side for the implementation of most strategic
pipeline projects, including the Bir Hospital Extension Project, Coordinated
Border Management at Korala Customs Point and Madan Bhandari Science and
Technology University Project.
Similarly, Livelihood Improvement
Project in the Northern Region of Nepal, Feasibility Study of Tunnel
Construction in Tokha-Chhare and Betrabati-Syafrubesi and China-Nepal
Cross-Border Railway and implementation of Exim-Bank concessional loan projects
are the other projects that are being carried forward with the Chinese
cooperation.
According to the ministry, the
Chinese side reaffirmed their commitment towards scaling up the initiations for
promoting these projects and stressed on the need to work together to better
plan and coordinate for accomplishing these projects.
"They further purposed to
forward these projects in a stepwise manner once the effect of the COVID-19
begins to ease down," said the MoF in a statement.
Boqing also pledged to provide
more support to fight together with the pandemic and extend the cooperation between
two countries in the upcoming days as well.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 August 2020.
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