China visit highly successful, PM Dahal asserts

Kathmandu, Sept 30: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has asserted that his visit to China was highly successful, and it was centered on strengthening bilateral relations. Talking to media persons upon his return home at Tribhuvan International Airport today, PM Dahal, said, “He held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a cordial manner. The bilateral meeting was a comprehensive discussion on utilizing opportunities and potentials from both countries and enriching the two-country relations.”

PM Dahal had jetted off to China from the US after attending the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. He was in New York from September 17 to 21, while visited various places and held meetings with dignitaries in China from September 23 to 30. He also attended the opening of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. “I believe my visit to China after a gap caused by COVID-19 will further bolster Nepal-China relations subsisting for long,” PM Dahal viewed, adding that various memoranda of understanding were signed between the two countries.

The bilateral discussions he held with Chinese President and Premier would reach two-country relations to a new height, he claimed. According to him, he talked openly on Chinese assistance and cooperation for Nepal’s development. “Nepal is firm on One China policy. Both countries discussed on further reaching the relations to a new height based on panchasheel principles, mutual cooperation and respect, international norms and law,” PM reminded during the meeting.

Similarly, he put forth his views during the meeting with Chinese President that the best practices of development, poverty alleviation and economic prosperity in China could be further leveraged for partnership in trade, investment, and inter-state transportation connectivity, among others. During the meeting, positive discussion was held on encouraging civil aviation bodies of both countries for cooperation to operate direct flight at Pokhara Regional International Airport and Bhairahawa International Airport from China to strengthen Nepal-China people’s relations, shared PM Dahal.

He mentioned that they also discussed the issues of forwarding agreements signed between the two countries based on international norms, values and principles. Addressing the Nepal-China Business Summit organised in Beijing on September 24, he called the Chinese investors to invest in the sector of priority of Nepal as there is appropriate environment and potential of investment in Nepal. PM Dahal further mentioned that he directed the Nepali Embassy in Beijing to actively work in favour of expansion of Nepal-China relations including implementation of agreements signed between the two countries.

In course of the bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, an intensive discussion was held on various issues of cooperation, he added. The meeting focused on various issues including construction of transmission line at northern border area of Nepal, construction and upgrading of different roads, expansion of cooperation in health and agro sectors, resumption of borders closed after Coronavirus pandemic and construction of different types of infrastructures, shared the PM.

The statement read by Prime Minister Dahal in press meet mentioned that the Chinese side would start the fourth phase of Araniko Highway Maintenance Project as per need of Nepal. Also it was also ready to carry out maintenance of Syaphrubesi Rasuwagadhi road. Both sides agreed to forward feasibility study of Hilsa Simikot road as well as accelerate feasibility study of Tokha Chhahare tunnel route. Moreover, PM Dahal expressed that discussion was held on the issues of forwarding second-phase expansion project of Kathmandu ring road project and immediately organising the eighth meeting of taskforce for the cooperation on Nepal-China railway.