KATHMANDU, JULY 20
Border affairs officials of Nepal and China have agreed to a joint border monitoring.
During a virtual meeting on border matters held on July 14, it was agreed to monitor the border under the leadership of the head of the North East Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Head of the Department of Border and Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
As joint border inspection between Nepal and China has not taken place for a long time, it has been agreed to proceed with this work through mutual consultation, said Sewa Lamsal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lamsal said that a report would be prepared jointly on the issues observed and monitored.
"A modality for such monitoring is yet to be prepared and based on it an integrated framework will be prepared on how to go and where to monitor," said Lamsal at a regular press briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here today.
According to an agreement reached between Nepal and China in 1963, border should be monitored and updated every 10 years. However, it has not been done regularly.
Spokesperson Lamsal also said there had been agreement on two-way opening of the Kerung-Rasuwagadhi transit point and the one-way opening of Hilsa border point by adopting necessary health standards related to COVID-19.
Likewise, the 10th meeting of the Trade Facilitation Committee established in Tibet between Nepal and China was held on July 18. During the meeting, construction of physical infrastructure at the border crossing, facilitation of bilateral trade, foreign investment, development of trade infrastructure, transportation facilities, as well as simplification of customs procedures, and the timely completion of under construction Timure Dry Port in Rasuwa with Chinese assistance were discussed.
In response to media queries, she shared that the recent India visit of former prime minister and CPN-Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal was at the invitation of a political party and thus the meeting was arranged accordingly.
However, necessary facilitation was done through the embassy on the basis of need.
The foreign ministry also shared that the agreement had been received from the respective countries on the recommendation for appointment of 16 different Nepali ambassadors. This was among the 20 proposals made in that regard.
Spokesperson Lamsal said ambassadors had already been appointed to 13 countries and appointment to three other countries was in the process.
She said that discussion among the concerned government bodies was necessary for implementation of the Cabinet's decision of not going ahead with the US State Partnership Programme.
Saying it was important to see how to incorporate the support Nepal has been receiving in the past before sending a reply to the US regarding the non-participation of Nepal in the SPP, Spokesperson Lamsal pointed out the need of discussion among government bodies on this issue.
"It is necessary to reach a conclusion by holding a comprehensive discussion," she said, adding, the US had been providing support to different sectors, including disaster management for a long time.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 21, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
