Kathmandu

China visit successful: PM Oli

China visit successful: PM Oli

By Rastriya Samachar Samiti

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli arrive in Dolpa, on Friday, April 13, 2018. The PM heads for Mugu to inaugurate Karnali-Rara Tourism Year-2075 BS on Nepali New Year on Saturday. Photo: RSS

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that his China visit focused on various issues including taking Nepal-China relation to a new height and implementing past agreements. Briefing today's meeting of the House of Representatives about his six-day official visit to China from June 19-24, Prime Minister Oli said that he held important talks with Chinese government to take the main agenda of the government, which is economic prosperity, ahead. He said the visit gave significant contribution to the journey of political stability and economic prosperity of the country, informing that he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, Chiefs of National People's Congress of China and government of Tibet during his China visit. Saying bilateral agreement was reached regarding the issues of Trans-Himalaya multidimensional connectivity expansion, PM Oli stated that other agreements regarding railways, expansion of road network, transmission line were also inked. He further said that agreement regarding railway construction was a milestone. The PM said that construction of Keyrong-Kathmandu railway would be carried out with Chinese grants. PM Oli shared that the pact signed between Nepal and China included expansion of land and air connectivity between the two countries, north-south connectivity, and construction of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali economic corridors. Furthermore, he shared that another agreement signed between Nepal and China was on construction of Keyrong-Rasuwagashi-Galchhi-Ratamate 400 KV transmission line, resumption of Tatopani Check Point by 2019, expansion of Rasuwagadhi road section, cooperation between the two countries on the research and extraction of petroleum products. According to the PM, agreements were made to provide Nepal economic and technological assistance under the post harvest technology for the production of agricultural goods and establishing quarantine facility in Nepal. MoU was signed to set up Nepal's General Consulate in various cities across China and China has agreed to increase Chinese government scholarship quotas for Nepali students. Another achievement of the visit, according to PM Oli, was MoU signed on China's assistance on Human Resource Development Cooperation. He informed that he, on behalf of President Bidya Devi Bhandari, invited the Chinese President to visit Nepal, and he also personally requested his Chinese counterpart Li to visit the Himalayan nation. Talks were held with Chinese authorities on subjects relating to Chinese government providing assistance in observing Nepal Visit Year, 2020 and attracting Chinese tourists, he said. Head of Tibet government has pledged to provide all kinds of support in implementing agreements struck earlier between Nepal and China, he informed. An agreement was reached to establish a high level mechanism between foreign ministries of both Nepal and China, and to provide additional 1 billion Yuan apart from 3 billion Yuan the Chinese government had earlier agreed to give in assistance, he said. Asserting that Nepal would sign the joint statement issued by Nepal and China on protocol related to Transit Transport, PM Oli clarified that Nepal will not allow any encroachment of its land. Informing that study of many issues relating to the border was due, PM Oli shared that the protocols signed with India during his visit to the southern neighbour was already in the implementation phase. According to him, the Camp Office of the Indian Embassy situated in Biratnagar was also closed and a survey team for railway construction had arrived for survey. Stating his China visit had added a new dimension to the ties between the two countries, PM Oli said the trip was fruitful. He expressed his confidence that the commitments made by him in China during his recent visit would phase into implementation in sometime and the results would be visible too.