Nepal and China agree to implement past deals

Kathmandu, Apr. 21: Nepal and China have agreed to implement all the past bilateral agreements, including those signed during the visit of erstwhile Prime Ministers KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

“The two countries have agreed to implement all the past agreements. We have similar views on cross-border connectivity - such as railways, roads, aviation, communication and transmission lines,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said at the Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival after concluding a six-day official visit of China.

According to him, both the neighbours want to develop a trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Transport Network, and it will be materialized in the near future. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also urged India to involve in such network.

The development of infrastructures along the trans-Himalayan region is critical for promoting economic opportunities by ensuring efficient movement of people, services and goods across the region, he had said while delivering his speech on ‘Nepal-China Relations and Development Prospects in Trans-Himalayan Region’ at Sichuan University, Chengdu on 20^th April.

He stated that to attain this goal, cooperation and understanding was required to optimize the benefits of trans-Himalayan connectivity.

“Therefore, Nepal and China should focus their cooperation arrangement for building the critical infrastructure in the Himalayan region and remove the barriers for a seamless movement of people, goods and services,” he said.

He said that Nepal had urged China to develop Keyrung-Rasuwagadhi-Kathmandu-Lumbini Railway project with Chinese grant.

“Nepal and China discussed on various modalities of cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). We expect China to build the cross-border railway with its grant support,” he said.

He said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation works of the Keyrung-Lumbini railway project was on the final stage and will be completed very soon.

Before embarking on his first official trip to China, Minister Gyawali had said that Nepal and China were closely working on the BRI, and deliberating on the modalities of cooperation under the Xi Jinping proposed mega-project.

Gyawali said that Nepali delegation requested Chinese side to upgrade Rasuwagadhi-Keyrung and Tatopani-Zhangmu border points, and open more border points in future.

“I have also urged to bring the Tatopani border in operation as soon as possible,” he said.

According to him, Wang has assured to provide additional favour to Nepali products in China to increase their market access there.

As Nepal wants to establish Consulate General’s Office in Chengdu to enhance its trade in Sichuan province of China since political, economic, business and people to people relations between Nepal and Chengdu have been increasing, FM Gyawali had requested the Governor of the province Dr. Yin Lee to support in establishing the consulate.

He said that Nepal needs to send more goods to China in order to reduce the alarming trade deficit.

He met with the high officials of China Three Georges Company and Sichuan Investment Group Company, and urged to invest in five priority areas of Nepal – road network, cross-country transmission lines, and modernisation of agriculture, tourism promotion and people to people relations.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 April 2018.