Nepal, China agree to enhance partnership in post-COVID scenario

Kathmandu, May 25

Nepal and China have agreed, at the 14^th meeting of the Nepal-China Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism, to activate bilateral mechanisms to enhance cooperation and partnership in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also emphasized the need for timely completion of China-assisted projects, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement.

The meeting was held virtually on Wednesday afternoon where Foreign Secretary of Nepal Bharat Raj Paudyal and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wu Jianghao led their respective delegations.

Both sides agreed to promote cooperation in various sectors including trade, transit, connectivity, investment, health, tourism, poverty alleviation, disaster management, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, among others.

“On the occasion, the two sides took stock of Nepal-China relations and exchanged views on further promoting bilateral relations and cooperation for mutual benefit,” said the MoFA.

According to the ministry, the two sides underscored the importance of exchange of high-level visits and stressed the need for timely implementation of the agreements and understandings reached between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Paudyal thanked the Chinese Government for the generous support of life-saving vaccines and medical supplies to Nepal during the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic and the northern neighbour’s decision to resume the regular passenger flights between the two countries in Kathmandu-Kunming and Kathmandu-Chengdu sectors.

He also appreciated China for the preparation of the return of Nepali students to China and requested to facilitate the return of Nepali business people and their families to China.

Likewise, Assistant Minister Wu assured the Foreign Secretary of China’s support for the improvement of health infrastructures as well as for the capacity building of medical personnel of Nepal.

According to the MoFA, both sides underlined the need to enhance the level of support for improving the livelihood of people residing in bordering districts in the Northern Himalayan region of Nepal. They also exchanged views on continuing cooperation in various regional and multilateral forums on matters of mutual interests.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 May 2022.