Foreign Minister Rana says BRI to be endorsed on Consensus
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 30
The leaders of the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML) met in Baluwatar for a discussion today.
The discussion was held between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Purna Bahadur Khadka, Bishnu Poudel, Gagan Thapa, Bishnu Rimal, Ramesh Lekhak, and others, and leaders from both parties. A leader who attended the two-hour meeting stated that the BRI was discussed.
NC General Secretary Gagan Thapa briefed the meeting about the work done by the committee and its role. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is leaving for a visit to China on December 2. Before that, the two ruling parties held discussions on the BRI.
Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, who returned from a visit to China, stated that the BRI will proceed with consensus.
Foreign Minister Rana said this while speaking to the media at Tribhuvan International Airport after returning home from her China visit today.
"In 2017, Nepal signed the BRI project framework. However, discussions about its enforcement method are still ongoing. Thus, the BRI will be implemented in accordance with the agreement and understanding reached between Nepal and China, as well as by all stakeholders in Nepal," she stated.
"The minister argued that Nepal is not currently in a position to take out loans. The discussion with the Chinese side centred on this. NC has already decided to enforce the BRI project grant, which was also communicated to another partner, UML. Our discussions centred on grants."
She reiterated that Nepal and China have close ties, and the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries has strengthened people-to-people relationships. The current visit is also part of this series.
According to her, she spoke with her Chinese counterpart on Friday about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's upcoming visit to China.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Embassy in China issued a press statement stating that Minister Dr. Rana had a bilateral meeting with Chinese Minister Yi in Chengdu Friday afternoon.
During the meeting, they emphasised the importance of regular high-level visits for furthering bilateral relations. The two ministers had extensive discussions about preparations for PM Oli's upcoming high-level visit to China.
The Minister emphasised that Nepal has always upheld the 'One China Principle' and will not tolerate any anti-China activity on Nepali territory. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and noninterference.
During the talks, both sides discussed trade, connectivity, investment, tourism, and people-to-people relations, among other topics. The Foreign Ministers highlighted the progress of connectivity projects such as cross-border railways, the Tokha-Chhahare tunnel, and highway and economic corridor projects, among others.
Both expressed their willingness to collaborate to expand and deepen practical cooperation. The leaders expressed joy at declaring 2025 as 'Visit Nepal Year' for Chinese tourists in honour of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations in order to strengthen people-to-people connections, among other things.
They also stressed the importance of both sides working together to expedite the completion of ongoing projects and implement the agreements and understandings reached between the two countries' leaders on several occasions.
