China visit successful to enhance bilateral relations

 PM Prachanda returns home

Kathmandu, Sept. 30

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said that his visit to China was an opportunity to hold intensive bilateral discussions on enhancing mutual relations by making optimum use of the existing opportunities and possibilities in both countries.

“In addition to a clear exchange of views on strengthening the multifaceted relations between the two countries, there was an open discussion about China's support and cooperation in Nepal's development efforts,” PM Prachanda said upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu after concluding his 15-day entourage to the United Nations’ 78^th General Assembly held in New York of the United States of America and the official visit of China.

He had left the country for New York on September 16 and returned home on Saturday, September 30.

From New York, he reached Hangzhou in China on September 23 to participate in the opening ceremony of the 19^th Asian Games. Before the opening ceremony, a delegation-level discussion was held between PM Prachanda and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

They deliberated on strengthening the people-to-people relations between Nepal and China. “There was a positive discussion about direct flights from China at Pokhara International Airport and encouraging cooperation between the aviation bodies of the two countries,” PM Prachanda said to the journalists.

The talks were also focused on Nepal's upgradation from the list of least developed countries to a developing country by 2026, the unique success achieved by China in the field of poverty alleviation and economic prosperity, and increasing trade, investment, international transport network and economic-social partnership with China in order to support Nepal in its graduation as well as development process. “President Xi has assured China’s full support in this drive,” said Prachanda.

PM Prachanda’s visit happened at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and it is the first high-level visit from Nepal after President Xi’s visit to Nepal in 2019.

PM Prachanda expressed his belief that his visit has played an important role in strengthening the atmosphere of mutual trust between Nepal and China and strengthening the overall aspect of the historical relationship between the two countries in the context of the lack of high-level visits for a long time due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

There were positive discussions on strengthening the people-to-people relations between Nepal and China, conducting direct flights from China to Pokhara International Airport and encouraging cooperation between the aviation bodies of the two countries, he informed.

Likewise, on September 24, PM Prachanda addressed Nepal-China Business Forum jointly organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) with the support from the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing. Informing the Chinese investors  about the investment areas having comparative and competitive advantage, he urged them to come to Nepal to make investment.

During the bilateral talk with Chinese PM Li on September 25, issues like the construction of transmission lines by China in difficult villages in the northern border region of Nepal, installation of solar systems in places where electricity cannot be reached from the central power transmission system in the areas on the border of Nepal and China, road construction and road upgrading in various places, and expansion of cooperation in the health and agriculture sectors were talked upon.

We also discussed about infrastructure development such as re-operation of traditional border crossings disrupted after the advent of COVID-19, construction of infrastructure on the border crossing towards Nepal, construction of state-of-the-art laboratories, said PM Prachanda.

Similarly, the two prime ministers also talked about cooperation in the field of science and technology, expansion of bilateral trade, and extension of air services from Chinese cities at Pokhara International Airport.

According to the needs of Nepal, the Chinese side is going to start the fourth phase of the Araniko Highway Upgrading Project.

Similarly, the Chinese side is ready for the repair of the Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road and both sides have agreed to proceed with the feasibility study of the Hilsa-Simkot road. They have agreed to speed up the feasibility study of the Tokha-Chhahare tunnel route, and implementation of the second phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road project. Likewise, they agreed to organise the eighth meeting of the working group for Nepal-China Railway Cooperation at the earliest.

According to PM Prachanda, the Chinese government has already given official information regarding the resumption of international trade channels between Nepal and China in addition to the traditional channels.

Similarly, along with the opening of the Korala border crossing of Mustang, Kimathanka and Olangchungola border points will also be put into operation soon. It has also been discussed that the Chinese side will provide support for the construction of infrastructure at the Korala border pass of Mustang.

Discussions have been held on the implementation of the concept of Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network by connecting Tibet and Nepal by railways, roads, air services, power transmission lines, and information routes. I have also requested to resume air service from Lhasa to Kathmandu, said the prime minister.

While in China, PM Prachanda met Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People's Congress of China, and visited Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Science to see a sample of China's agricultural revolution.

On September 27, he reached Lhasa of Tibet where he had a conversation with Wang Junzheng, the party secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the Chinese Communist Party. According to him, Nepal can learn a lot and benefit from the rapid economic development that Tibet has been doing for some time now.

Likewise, at the UNGA in New York, PM Prachanda delivered a speech on behalf of Nepal in the General Debate of the high-level session of the assembly.

“I mainly presented the peace process of Nepal and the international community's support to bring it to a concrete conclusion, climate change and its effects on underdeveloped countries including Nepal and its solutions, the problems of the Himalayan nations, the problems of the underdeveloped nations in achieving the goals of sustainable development, and the resources to solve those problems,” he said.

He has drawn the serious attention of the world community for the arrangement.

PM Prachanda also addressed the Summit on Sustainable Development held on September 18 as the President of the Least Developed Countries Group where he emphasised the problems faced by the LDCs including Nepal in achieving the goals of sustainable development and the need to implement the Doha Action Plan and provide resources and technical assistance from development partners to solve them.

Addressing the Climate Ambition Summit held on September 20 as the chairman of the group of the LDCs, he drew serious attention to the effects of climate change on the LDCs and urged the international community to fulfil the commitments it made regarding climate finance including Green Climate Fund, Loss and Damage Fund, Adaptation Fund. “And I have requested to provide easy financial access to countries like Nepal, which are affected by climate change,” he said.

Likewise, addressing the High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, he stressed the need to fulfil the commitment of development aid made by the international community to make the unbalanced and unequal development seen in the global economic system fair, equal and balanced, and to comprehensively reform and transform the international financing mechanisms and structures.

Meanwhile, Embassy of Nepal in Beijing said in a statement that Nepali Ambassador to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, embassy officials, officials of the Consulate General in Chengdu and senior officials of the government of Sichuan Province of China were present at the airport in Chengdu to see off the Nepali delegation. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 October 2023.