KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 2
While Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli embarked on a four-day official visit to China today, the Belt and Road Initiative endorsement has dominated the headlines, as he now has a blueprint for the BRI and the consensus of the ruling parties.
Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed Prime Minister Oli at Beijing Capital International Airport.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Oli will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li, he plans to discuss a variety of bilateral issues. Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet China's National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji.
Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the BRI is on the table and will be discussed during the PM's visit.
Meanwhile, upon returning from China last week in preparation for Prime Minister Oli's visit, Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba reiterated that the Nepali Congress had passed a resolution prohibiting "taking loans" prior to the formation of this government.
"Our partner party (the CPN-UML led by Oli) in the government is well aware of this," Minister Deuba told reporters.
"We are not in a position to take any loans now. We hope to receive a grant from you," Minister Deuba told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Chengdu last Friday.
"Based on the current situation in the country, I made it clear that Nepal cannot accept a loan."
She stated that during PM Oli's visit, the second phase of Kathmandu Ring Road expansion, Hilsa Simikot Road, and the upgrade of Araniko Highway will be addressed.
Prior to the visit, NC and UML reached an agreement on a blueprint for BRI implementation known as the "Framework."
Previously, the ruling parties disagreed over a document known as the "Implementation Plan."
The CPN-UML deputy general secretary took to Facebook to congratulate Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba on their success in developing a consensus for the BRI cooperation framework.
"This agreement will not only take Nepal's development partnership with China to new heights; it will also serve as a critical starting point for establishing a unified national view in foreign relations," reads his post.
Earlier, UML leaders stated that it is too late to implement the BRI, which was agreed upon by the government in 2017, and that they should consider the possibility of subsidised loans while prioritising grants.
Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to return home on December 5.
During his visit, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to speak at Peking University and the Nepal-China Business Forum, which is co-organized by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the Nepal Federation of Commerce and Industry.
The Nepali delegation, led by Prime Minister Oli, includes his wife Radhika Shakya, Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, Prime Minister's Chief Adviser Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Prime Minister's Economic and Development Adviser Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, MPs, high-ranking government officials, private sector representatives, and media personnel.
