China visit, a complete success: PM Oli --2

The Prime Minister reiterated that the government was committed towards building a prosperous Nepal through the economic and social development on the foundation of the political stability achieved with the promulgation of the constitution. Nepal and China signed three agreements related to construction of a bridge at the Nepal-China border transit point at Hilsa and acquiring grant and concessional loan assistance for the construction of a regional international airport in Pokhara during the PM's visit. Likewise, it was shared during the press conference that MoUs related to feasibility study of oil and gas exploration with Chinese assistance, starting dialogue on free trade agreement between the two countries, providing 32 thousand solar panels to the earthquake victims families in the earthquake-affected districts, protection of trade mark registration, and exchange of cooperation in the financial and banking sector were also signed during the PM's official visit to the northern neighbour. Prime Minister Oli informed that agreements have been reached regarding garnering Chinese cooperation for the development of Nepal's infrastructure sector, expanding the surface and air transport connectivity, strengthening the transport infrastructure, construction of inter-country road and railway network, repair and operation of the Araniko and the Syfrubesi-Rasuwagadhi highways and expansion of the Ring Road in Kathmandu. Similarly, PM Oli said the Chinese side has agreed to provide loans at subsidized rate for the construction of the Kimathanka-Khandbari Dhankuta road, the 434-Megawatt Arun Kimathanka Hydroelectricity Project, the 400 KV inter-country transmission line and the mono-pole electricity transmission line of 132 KV capacity along the Kathmandu Ring Road. He also informed that talks have been held regarding acquiring assistance for expansion of services at the Civil Service Hospital and setting up of the Madan Bhandari Institute of Science and Technology. Stating that the Chinese side has taken in serious light the list of goods presented by the Nepali side seeking easy access to 500 Nepali goods having feasibility of export to China into the Chinese market in a bid to reducing Nepal's trade deficit with China, he said an understanding has been reached to constitute a dialogue mechanism between the concerned bodies of the two countries for fuel trade. He stated that agreement has been reached for cooperation in the tourism sector including providing training and teaching Chinese language to 200 tourism entrepreneurs in the coming five years for boosting Nepal's tourism industry and creating environment in which Nepal can reap benefits from the Chinese tourists. The Prime Minister mentioned that the Chinese side has also agreed to provide training opportunities to more than 400 people and also to increase the number of government scholarship seats it has been providing for the development of the human resource. Stating that in course of the visit he held bilateral talks and discussions on important topics with top Chinese officials including President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Kequiang, PM Oli said on behalf of President Bidya Devi Bhandari and himself, he extended invitation to the Chinese Premier to pay a visit to Nepal. He also expressed the hope that the Chinese highest political leadership to visit Nepal in 2016. At the press conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa said that Nepal's relations with its neighbours was based on a special and separate pedestal and the agreements reached during the PM's China visit have come into implementation immediately after their signing. He asserted that the country's long-term progress and the supreme welfare of the Nepalis has been ensured, adding that the existing relations with the friendly countries would be strengthened and expanded on the basis of equality and mutual interest. DPM Thapa stated that the relations with one neighbour could not be compared with the other. PM Oli had left for China on March 20, leading the Nepali delegation. RSS