Kathmandu – Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, met with Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Thursday to extend congratulations and best wishes on her appointment.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, Ambassador Song expressed China’s commitment to continued support and cooperation during the meeting.
Both sides also exchanged views and agreed to further strengthen friendship and partnership between Nepal and China, the embassy stated.
Kathmandu – MoU has been signed between China and Nepal extending the supports for four different projects in Nepal.
China is set to reconstruct flood-damaged structures in Rasuwagadhi .During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency Chen Xiaodong said that China will assist in the reconstruction of flood-damaged physical structures in Rasuwa.
During the meeting, Chairman Xiaodong informed that necessary assistance will be provided for the reconstruction of physical structures and that the customs process will be carried out quickly.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed for the construction of a bone marrow transplantation project and a feasibility study for the expansion of the Civil Servants Hospital at the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur, Chitwan.
A bone marrow cancer treatment center spread over an area of 1,834 square meters will be constructed at the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur and the necessary machinery will be installed. This will make a significant contribution to the treatment of bone marrow cancer. Similarly, a feasibility study will also be conducted for the expansion of the Civil Servants Hospital. The implementation of these two agreements is expected to make a significant contribution to the health sector of Nepal.
On this occasion, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Nepal and China on human resource development. This will give 1,270 government employees the opportunity to participate in bilateral and multilateral seminars organized by various organizations in China. This will make a significant contribution to the capacity building of employees.
Similarly, the feasibility study memorandum for the construction of the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung cross-border transmission line was signed by Hitendradev Shakya, Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, and the Chairman of SIDCA. This will move forward the feasibility study work related to the construction of the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung transmission line.
Kathmandu: The CPN-UML has stated that the BRI is important to fulfill the aspirations of the Nepalese people for development and prosperity. The political report presented at the eighth meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has mentioned the special importance of the BRI cooperation framework signed between the two countries during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China.
The CPN (UML) believes that it is not in the national interest to unnecessarily politicize and make controversial the issues of any aid project based on its specific political demands or geopolitical interests, rather than on the basis of merit or demerit.
‘The signed BRI cooperation framework is of special importance. It is believed that it will help overcome the difficulties created by Nepal’s landlockedness by supporting connectivity and infrastructure construction, and will help diversify Nepal’s transit facilities, facilitate trade, and increase investment. We lack the resources to fulfill the people’s desire for development and prosperity, to upgrade the developing country through rapid economic development, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and to elevate Nepal to a middle-income country as soon as possible.’
The UML has provided information through the report that the UML and the Congress have reached a common position on the BRI and signed it. The UML claims that the plan of those who want to cultivate instability again by creating divisions in the power partnership on sensitive issues has been thwarted. ‘This agreement is important in itself, but the fact that a common concept has been created between the two main parties of the country on this issue, breaking through all the confusion, misinformation and discomfort, is equally important. It has helped to create a single voice of the entire nation in foreign relations and mobilization of foreign aid and to strengthen the national stance at the negotiating table.’ The political report states, ‘It has also thwarted the plans of those who want to cultivate instability again by creating divisions in power cooperation on sensitive issues.’
UML Chairman Oli, who is also the Prime Minister, has mentioned in the report that he wants to develop reliable relations and economic partnerships with all friendly countries, including neighbors, keeping national interests at the center.
‘The CPN (UML) wants the country’s foreign relations to be mobilized on the basis of a balanced, non-aligned, reliable, sustainable and mutual trust and benefit-based foreign policy. No independent country should be compelled to work for the orders, instructions or interests of others. We want to emphasize the true exercise of independence.’ The political report states, ‘We want to develop trustworthy relations and economic partnerships with all friendly countries, including our neighbors, keeping national interests at the center. Nepal is sensitive to the legitimate interests and concerns of its neighbors, including its friends. Similarly, Nepal wants its neighbors and all friendly countries to be sensitive, cooperative and positive towards Nepal’s national interests, its independent foreign policy, conduct of external relations and sensitivity. ‘Friendship with all, enmity with none’ will remain the basic tenet of Nepal’s external relations as always.’
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a highly ambitious development strategy put forward by the Chinese government. In September 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the construction of a ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ during a speech at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan.
A month later, during a visit to Indonesia, President Xi proposed the construction of a ‘Twenty-First Century Maritime Silk Road’. Later, these two were combined and presented as ‘One Belt, One Road’ in the Chinese State Council’s plan. It is now called the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’.
In the BRI, ‘Road’ refers to the sea route, while ‘Belt’ refers to the land route. The Belt connects the western part of China with Central Asia, Russia, Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Sea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean. Similarly, ‘Road’ connects China with Europe and Africa via sea routes. The BRI project covers 65 countries, 4.4 billion people, and one-third of the world’s gross domestic product.
This is a project many times larger than the Marshall Plan, which was created by the United States to rebuild Europe after World War II. So far, about one trillion dollars in investment has been confirmed in hundreds of projects.
Here are the projects that have been agreed upon between Nepal and China and are included in the BRI framework:
This tunnel, which is included in the BRI framework, will help reduce the distance between Kathmandu and Rasuwa. During the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in 2076 BS, it was agreed to build the Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel with a grant. During that visit, China agreed to build a road with a tunnel from Kathmandu to Tokha-Chhahare, Nuwakot’s district headquarters, Bidur, to Betravati and Syafrubensi. The construction of this tunnel was one of the 20 agreements signed with China during that visit. An agreement was also signed between the Ministry of Finance and the China International Development Cooperation Agency regarding cooperation in the construction of the tunnel.
According to the agreement, in the first phase, China was to build a 32-km road including a tunnel from Kathmandu to Nuwakot district headquarters with a grant. The Tokha-Chhahare tunnel was to be 7 km long. The tunnel connecting Kathmandu to Rasuwagadhi would be built in two sections, in which road tunnels would be built at Tokha in Kathmandu and Chhahare in Nuwakot, and at Betravati and Syafrubesi in Rasuwa.
The currently operating main road, Kathmandu-Galchhi-Syafrubesi, is 128 km long. The distance to Rasuwagadhi is 152 km via Kathmandu bypass, Nuwakot’s Bidur, Rasuwa’s Dhunche and Syafrubesi. The Tokha-Chhahare Gangate is 44 km long. This section will be reduced by 12 km when built at Galchhi-Chhahare. Gangate-Betravati is 17 km, Betravati-Mailung is 10 km, Mailung-Syafrubensi is 19 km, and Syafrubensi is 16 km. According to a study conducted in 2071 BS, the Investment Board had estimated that it would cost Rs 26.5 billion to build the tunnel. Later, a preliminary study conducted with the assistance of the Chinese government said that this project would be suitable for moving forward. The study presented three lengths of the tunnel route, 3.3, 3.6, and 4.2 kilometers. The study conducted by the board also estimated the length of the tunnel route to be 4.175 kilometers. After that, the project work did not move forward.
The Hilsa-Simikot road project under the North-South Karnali Corridor falls under the BRI framework. This section, which the government has included as a national pride project, mentions that the 2-lane road from Hilsa to Simikot, the Chinese border, will be upgraded. An agreement has been signed with China last Bhadra for its feasibility study. The construction work of the project was started in 069/070 BS. The initial cost of this section was 4.10 billion 50 million 30 thousand. Later, the revised cost has been 15 billion (including blacktop upgrading). Of this project, which will construct/upgrade 146 km of road and construct 10 bridges, 145.2 km of track has been opened so far. Similarly, 15.5 km of gravel and 2 bridges have been constructed.
The length of the Khandbari-Kimathanka road under the North-South (Koshi) Road Scheme of National Pride is 162 km. The total length of this highway, which connects the southern border of Morang via Rani, Biratnagar-Hile-Leguwa to Kimathanka in Sankhuwasabha, is 345 km. The road section from Rani to Khandbari has been blacktopped, while the work of upgrading the 134 km road section from Khandbari to Chyamtang is currently underway.
There was no discussion of the Geelong-Kerung-Kathmandu railway until India imposed an undeclared blockade on Nepal in 072 BS. When the problems were being faced due to the blockade imposed by India, the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli paid an official visit to China. On the occasion of the visit, a transport and transit agreement was signed on 072 Chaitra 8. The issue of construction of the Kerung-Kathmandu railway also found a place in the course of the same treaty.
A team led by the Deputy Administrator of the National Railway Authority of China, who visited Nepal in December 2017, handed over the pre-feasibility study report of the Kathmandu-Kerung railway to Nepal. The distance from the Rasuwagadhi border post to Kathmandu is 72.25 kilometers. It is said that it will cost about 3 billion rupees to build, 98.5 percent of the railway section will be in bridges and tunnels, four stations and seven tunnels will be constructed. The detailed project report (DPR) of the project is currently being studied. The Chinese team has been given a deadline to complete the DPR by 2026.
This is a new project under the BRI framework. The city hall project is being taken forward in this area along with the Amargadhi Smart City, which is among the government’s 10 smart cities. It has not been disclosed under which aid, whether it is a loan or grant from the Chinese government, this project will be taken forward.
The Ratmate-Rasuwagadhi-Kerung 400 kV transmission line was selected for the purpose of exchanging electricity with neighboring China. The agreement was proposed under the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) during the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China.
The Ratmate-Rasuwagadhi-Kerung transmission line was initially to be built at 400 (kilovolt-kV). However, now Nepal and China have agreed to build a 220 kV transmission line under the Chilime-Kerung single circuit. This is an international transmission line. During the visit of the then Prime Minister Prachanda to China in 2080 BS, an agreement was reached to proceed with this transmission line along with a feasibility study.
Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology is a new university proposed by the Government of Nepal. The university will be located in Chitlang, Makawanpur district. Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology was established by promulgating the Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology Act, 079 (August 3, 2022). The government says that a world-class research-oriented university will directly contribute to the country’s economic development by increasing the competitive capacity of the country’s economy and creating new knowledge and technology.
Nepal-China strategic foundation holds strategic importance as it was agreed to advance this university during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal in 2019.
This is a new project under the BRI framework. However, its detailed details have not been disclosed.
A China-Nepal Industrial Park is being built between the Ratuwa and Mawa rivers with an investment of billions, encompassing some areas of Damak Municipality-10, Kamal Rural Municipality-7, and Gauradaha Municipality-5 in Jhapa. The government has approved the investment of China’s Lhasa Economic and Technology Development Zone Jingping Joint Creation Construction Project Development Company Limited for the construction of the park. An agreement has also been signed between the two countries for this. The park will be built in 10 years. It is stated that the Chinese will operate the park for 40 years and then hand it over to Nepal.
The construction of the industrial park, which will be built on 1,600 hectares, will be completed in four phases. The first phase will involve an investment of 586 million US dollars (63.21 billion rupees). The government says that the industrial park will be the best in South Asia in terms of work, leisure, entertainment and culture. The project will be spread over an area of 2,200 bighas and 1,300 bighas of land has been integrated so far. A team from China inspected the land in 2017.
This is a new project under the BRI framework. The government has stated that this project is being taken forward for the development and expansion of the sports sector. However, its detailed details have not been made public.
Kathmandu- Chinese high military team has arrived in Kathmandu.
A team led by the Tibet Military Commander of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Major General Yui , has landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Air China flight number 437.
The team was welcomed at the Tribhuvan International Airport Major General Sagar Bahadur Thapa and Brigadier General Sunil Shrestha.
According to Information Officer and Assistant Rathi Krishna Prasad Bhandari of the Nepali Army, the Chinese military team, which is on an official visit, is scheduled to meet with Chief of Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma and others. Border security, military relations between the two countries will be discussed during the meeting. The 8-member military team led by Major yui will return to the country on the 3rd of Bhadra 2080 BS.
Chinese National People’s Congress President Li has arrived in Nepal. A Nepalese team including Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota reached the airport to welcome Li and his team who arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport at 3 o’clock today.
The government has made special security arrangements for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s confidant, Chairman of the National People’s Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Li Zhanshu.
Lee, who is coming to Nepal via Russia and Mongolia, is scheduled to return to China via South Korea from Nepal. Lee’s 100-member jumbo tour team, which includes 6 ministerial-level leaders, came to Nepal in a special plane. According to the Chinese Constitution, Li is second in rank and third in the Communist Party of China (CPC).
President Lee will hold a bilateral meeting with Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota today. During the bilateral talks, the Parliament Secretariat informed that an agreement will be reached between the Federal Parliament of Nepal and the National People’s Congress of China regarding bilateral cooperation and exchange of visits. Speaker Sapkota will host a dinner in Lee’s honor today. President Lee is scheduled to meet Prime Minister and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, National Assembly Speaker Ganesh Timilsena and Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka on Tuesday.
President Lee will meet President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday. On the same day, UML President KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Center President Pushpa Kamal Dahal are scheduled to meet separately. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lee is scheduled to return from Nepal on Thursday.
NP
