China announces to commission Kerung-Kathmandu railway feasibility study

KATHMANDU, AUGUST 11 : Northern neighbour China has announced to commission a feasibility study of the Kerung-Kathmandu railway on grant assistance. In a bilateral meeting with visiting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Dr. Narayan Khadka, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi made the announcement. According to the official information, Nepal-China bilateral meeting was held in Qingdao of China on August 10 (Wednesday).

During the talks, the two sides made a comprehensive review of Nepal-China relations and bilateral cooperation and also agreed to further extend assistance in the areas of trade, connectivity, investment, health, tourism, poverty alleviation, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, education, and culture, among others, stated a press release issued on Wednesday by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khadka is on a three-day official visit to China at the invitation of China's State Councilor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yang. On the occasion, Minister Dr. Khadka reiterated Nepal's unswerving stance on the one-China policy noting Nepal would not allow the use of its territory for any activity against China, the Embassy said.

Likewise, Foreign Minister Yang also reiterated China's continued and unconditional support and solidarity for Nepal's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and assured to assist in Nepal's development efforts as per the Nepal government priorities. Expressing commitment to timely implement the deals signed during the high-level state visits in the past, both the ministers agreed to expedite the implementation of the projects being operated with China's assistance in Nepal.

Also on the same occasion, the Chinese side assured the Nepali delegation to immediately begin the second round of construction of the Kathmandu-Ring Road Improvement Project. Foreign Minister Yang also assured Nepal to undertake a pre-feasibility study of the Nepal-China Cross-Border Transmission Line which was already manifested in the MoU signed during his earlier Nepal visit in March 2022.

On the occasion, Minister Yang announced to provide Nepal with a financial package of 800 million RMB in 2022. China has also assured to provide Nepal with chemical fertilizers and consider commissioning a feasibility study on the establishment of a chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal.

Likewise, Foreign Minister has also agreed to boost China's assistance to further develop Nepal's agriculture sector, encourage Chinese investment to increase Nepal's agro productivity, and enhance assistance in the export of Nepali tea and traditional herbals. According to the Beijing-based Nepali Embassy, the two ministers also agreed to set up a joint mechanism for the prevention and control of pandemics along the border port.

Also included in the agreement was to open the Rasuwa-Kerung and Tatopani-Jangmu port for two-way trade and Hilsa-Pulang ports for one-way trade following the COVID-19 pandemic coming under control in China's autonomous region, Tibet. On this occasion, China has announced handing over materials used for managing disaster risks.

Minister Yang also pledged to provide additional vaccines against COVID to fulfill Nepal's requirement and medical assistance as well. Also on the occasion, the two sides agreed to form a bilateral technical team to carry out the works of the existing mechanism of the Nepal-China Joint Border Inspection Committee. Minister Dr. Khadka had set out to China on August 9 leading an 11-member Nepali delegation. The delegation is scheduled to return Kathmandu.

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