Minister Baskota reveals Cabinet decisions

Kathmandu, October 17

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Nepal was a ‘historic success.’

Speaking at a press conference organised in Singha Durbar to disclose the decisions made by today’s Cabinet meeting, he said the visit of Chinese president after 23 years was expected to elevate the bilateral relations to a new level, opening up new areas of cooperation between the two neighbours.

“Announcement by the leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world to promote Nepal from a landlocked to land-linked country is a huge motivation for Nepal on its march towards prosperity. Now Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s long-cherished dream of making Nepal a land-linked country will materialise.

The 20-point memorandum of understanding signed between Nepal and China carries a multi-dynamic significance,” he said.

Minister Baskota also said President’s Xi’s visit had projected a good image of Nepal in the international arena. “President Xi’s visit to Nepal had grabbed media attention globally,” he said.

During the press conference, Minister Baskota disclosed a decision of the Cabinet.

As per the decisions, the government has approved an institutional framework to create an environment for the operation of business activities.

A 15-member talks team was formed, led by a joint secretary for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to participate in the fourth meeting of the Nepal-Bangladesh Commerce Joint Secretary Level Technical Committee, scheduled for October 22 and 23, in Kathmandu.

The government has decided to provide relief amount of one million rupees to Jayalal Sharma Arjel, father of Adhiraj Kumar Sharma of Banke district. Sharma was killed in an anti-government protest.

As per the Cabinet decision, the term of the recommendation committee, headed by Home Secretary Prem Kumar Rai, formed to appoint the executive chief of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has been expanded.

The term of a probe panel led by the Central Investigation Bureau to investigate into land grab cases was also extended until December 14.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been authorised to sign a memorandum of understanding with its French counterpart for the establishment of a bilateral consultation mechanism. The government has granted permission to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel to sign the ‘China Provision of Military Assistance Grant to Nepal.’