Kathmandu, June 10

Former prime minister and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that forging understanding for trilateral development cooperation between Nepal, India and China is possible.

Dahal’s statement has come ahead of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China. “A high level visit from China will happen soon,” Dahal said at a programme organised to mark the fifth anniversary of Ratopati news portal here today. “We should be able to take advantage of the high level of development achieved by our immediate neighbours — India and China,” Dahal said.

He also said that Nepal could easily attain the goal of development and prosperity as it had achieved political stability. “The next decade will be the time when we will make significant progress in achieving the goals of development and prosperity,” he said. Dahal said the private sector would play a key  role in helping the government achieve the goals of development and prosperity.

He also stressed the need for amending old laws to create employment opportunities in the country. “The government and the political parties should present their models for attracting foreign investment. If we can do so, Nepali workers who are toiling in foreign land to earn a living for their families will return to Nepal after five years,” Dahal said. He also said major political forces of the country, including the opposition parties, should join hands on national issues.

Former PM Baburam Bhattrai said the government should invest in social sector and foreign investment should be used in infrastructure sector for the development of the country.

“Time is money so it should be utilised for development. The five-year tenure of the government should not be wasted,” he said.

Congress leader Minendra Rijal said the government needed to deliver on its pledge and not just issue directives to lower bodies. He further said that the government had not created environment conducive to development.