KATHMANDU: China is willing to make a moderate increment in its grant to strengthen trade and economic ties with Nepal.

During a programme organised on the occasion of 54th Nepal China Friendship day, Chinese ambassador to Nepal Qiu Guohong said though China is affected by the global financial crisis, it will moderately increase the grant assistance.

He said the overall economy of China is not good due to the crisis. He added that China will identify the areas to allow grant assistance and the priority areas will be rural, hydropower, flyover and dry ports. “We will gradually grant more assistance to Nepal and in the

future too we will give assistance and will encourage Chinese enterprises to make investment in Nepal.”

Ambassador Guohong also focused on Nepal-China relations and urged both countries to work for mutual benefit and stronger bilateral relations.

Speaking on the occasion, deputy prime minister Bijay Kumar Gachhedar insisted on attracting industrial investments from China.

He said the nation should

try and focus on attracting

investment here. There must effectiveness in trade

relations between Nepal and China, he said.

During the programme, participants from different political parties opined that there must be infrastructure development to increase trade between Nepal and China along with tourism promotion for Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

According to them, Nepal is making numerous investments in African countries but it has failed to encourage the African countries to make investment here due to political instability.

They also urged for the development of the North-South Road to develop trade relations between two the countries and minimise trade imbalance.