Kathmandu, May 2
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will embark on a 8-day
official visit of Vietnam and Cambodia.
The visit will be
focused on learning how the war-torn country that lost about 2 million people
in two decades became an economic powerhouse in the East Asia, said Minister
for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.
"In the last three decades Vietnam has made it one of the world's
best investment destinations. It has many learning from which Nepal can benefit
as we have recently completed the political transition after a decade long
war," he said while interacting with the journalists at the Ministry in Singh
Durbar on Thursday.
Vietnam lost about 2 million of its citizens and more than 200,000
military force during the war with United States of America from 1955 to 1975. But
it has improved the policy regime and business environment in such a way that
many global firms and investors want to make their way to Vietnam.
PM Oli is embarking on a five-day (May 9-13) entourage of the south-east
Asian nation at the invitation of its PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Likewise, Nepal also hopes to get benefit from the large Buddhist
population in Vietnam, a potential source of Nepali tourism industry that is
set to double itself by 2020.
"The Gautam Buddha International Airport will be completed by the
end of 2019 which will open door for bilateral flight cooperation between Nepal
and Vietnam which can increase the flow of Vietnamese tourists to Lumbini and
other tourist destinations in the country," said Gyawali.
PM Oli will address the Boishakhi event and deliver speech at the Ho Chi
Minh Political Academy, a Vietnamese think-tank.
He will conclude his Vietnam visit on May 13 and leave for Cambodia for
a three-day official visit which is happening at the invitation of Cambodian PM
Hun Sen.
Hun had visited Nepal during the Asia-Pacific Summit in December last
year.
Gyawali said that the visit would be focused on strengthening bilateral relations
between Nepal and Cambodia and attracting more tourists from there.
He also indicated signing of some important agreements.
President's China visit
successful
Foreign Minister Gyawali said that President Bidya Devi Bhandari's China
visit was highly successful in strengthening the bilateral relations and
enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries.
"The joint communiqué issued after the conference on the 'Second
Belt and Road Forum for a Brighter Shared Future' has given special attention
to issues like strengthening transit and connectivity infrastructure to
facilitate the landlocked countries, regulating the multi-sectoral trade system
and creating Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network,
including Nepal-China cross border railways," he said. "These issues
are important for us."
During her visit, Nepal signed the Protocol on Transit Agreement which
has opened up seven Chinese ports to Nepal. Likewise, there was signing on
agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) handover of projects
maintained by China, bilateral administrative customs cooperation, support to
standards measurement, economic and technical cooperation, and livelihood
support.
Minister Gyawali said that Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged support
in creating cross-border railways and other infrastructure under the wider
network of creating Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity
Network.
Xi also said that China was ready to support Nepal in its priority areas
like education, export trade promotion and opening up more border points. He
also said that he would visit Nepal in near future.
Tatopani border to reopen
this month
Minister Gyawali said that the Tatopani border would come into operation
within this month.
"China has completed the construction of the dry port at Larcha of
Sindhupalchowk and the Miteri Bridge is about to be completed. China has
already constructed the required structure across the border," he said.
However, Nepal is yet to reconstruct the road that was damaged by the
devastating earthquake in 2015.
Gyawali said that after reopening, the border point would not be used to
trade retail goods.
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