KATHMANDU, MARCH 26
Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Khadka and State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi held official talks at Singha Durbar, in Kathmandu this afternoon.
The two ministers discussed all important aspects of Nepal-China relations and cooperation, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both sides underscored the importance of exchange of high-level visits on a regular basis for strengthening mutual trust and confidence and further consolidating Nepal-China relations.
Foreign Minister Khadka reiterated Nepal's commitment to 'One China policy' and not allowing any activity against China on Nepali territory.
Both sides reaffirmed their support for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and each other's national independence.
Khadka appreciated the Government of China for consistently supporting Nepal's development endeavors, and thanked the Chinese side for completion of development projects such as Araniko Highway Long-term Opening Maintenance Project (Phase III) and Pokhara International Regional Airport.
The two foreign ministers also underscored the need for concerted efforts to expedite the execution of ongoing projects as well as to implement agreements and understandings reached between the two countries during high-level visits.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang assured development assistance committed to Nepal by President Xi Jinping during his State visit in October 2019.
The two foreign ministers stressed the need of continued partnership to overcome challenges of the COV- ID-19 pandemic and to focus on COVID-19 response and recovery.
Khadka thanked the Government of China for its continuous support during the fight against COVID-19, including the support of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines and medical equipment. The Chinese foreign minister assured that China would provide COVID-19 vaccines and other medical supplies needed by Nepal.
Both the sides also focused on issues related to trade, investment and tourism. They underscored the need to fully operationalise the Tatopani-Zhangmu and Rasuwagadi-Kerung border ports for two-way movement of goods between Nepal and China. The two ministers have instructed their relevant authorities to work together to this end.
With a view to promoting tourism and people-to-people contacts between the two countries, the two foreign ministers agreed to resume, at an early date, the passenger air services suspended due to the COV- ID-19 pandemic.
Underlining the importance of continuously maintaining peace and tranquility on the Nepal-China border in the spirit of the boundary treaty, the two foreign ministers agreed to carry out joint inspection of Nepal-China boundary through mutual consultation.
Wang assured Khadka full cooperation of the Government of China in facilitating the return of Nepali students to China to continue their studies on priority basis and agreed to start the process at the earliest.
The two ministers also discussed continued cooperation in various regional and multilateral forums on matters of mutual interests.
Following the bilateral talks, the two foreign ministers witnessed the signing and exchange of nine agreements and documents: They include agreement on economic and technical cooperation, technical assistance scheme for China-Aid feasibility, study of China-Nepal cross-border railway project, cooperation agreement on the feasibility study of Nepal-China power grid interconnection, protocol on the safety and health condition for export of haylage from Nepal to China, exchange of letters on duty-free treatment to be provided by China to goods of Nepali origin covering 98 per cent tariff lines, handover Certificate of Araniko Highway Maintenance Project (Phase III), and minutes of the seventh meeting between Nepal and China on enhancing cooperation in the railway sector.
Similarly, the agreements also include protocol on sending a Chinese medical team to work in Nepal at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, delivery and acceptance certificate of China aided COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal (fifth and sixth batches) of four million Vero cell vaccines.
As per the Agreement on economic and technical cooperation, China has agreed to provide Nepal with a grant of RMB 600 million for the year 2020.
The grant will be utilised for projects mutually agreed upon between the two governments.
Later today, Wang paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at his official residence in Baluwatar.
Following the courtesy call, the Chinese foreign minister, in the presence of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, handed over a model key of Pokhara Regional International Airport to Foreign Minister Khadka amidst a special ceremony held at Baluwatar to mark the completion of the construction of the airport.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale handed over the completion certificate of the airport to the Chinese side amidst a brief ceremony held in Pokhara.
In the evening, Minister Khadka hosted dinner in honour of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the visiting delegation.
Wang will call on President Bidhya Devi Bhandari tomorrow.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 27, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
