KATHMANDU, July 11: Nepal and China recently reached an agreement aimed at accelerating the completion of pending projects, as per the commitments made in 2018 and 2019.
The agreement was reached during a productive meeting between Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, vice chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) of Nepal, and Chong Liang, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the Chinese government. The meeting took place at the NDRC office in Beijing.
Nepal, China agree to expedite BRI projects
During the meeting, both sides engaged in comprehensive discussions on the outstanding work to be carried out by the governments of Nepal and China. Moreover, the NPC highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange with its Chinese counterpart, the NDRC, as well as the provision of technical assistance. These endeavors are expected to facilitate Nepal in formulating its 16th periodic plan and further enhance bilateral cooperation.
In a friendly gesture, Dr Shrestha extended an invitation to Vice Chairman Chong, welcoming him to visit Nepal at a suitable time. This gesture signifies Nepal's commitment to strengthening ties with China and fostering mutually beneficial collaboration.
It is noteworthy that the Chinese organization previously known as the State Planning Commission is now recognized as the NDRC, which currently oversees the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Additionally, a bilateral meeting between Vice Chairman Shrestha and Deng Boqing, vice chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), was held. CIDCA is responsible for organizing the inaugural high-level international conference on the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, presently being hosted in Beijing. As an agency overseeing China's international cooperation efforts, CIDCA plays a crucial role in promoting global collaboration.
During the meeting, both parties discussed the progress in implementing various programs and projects previously announced by the Chinese government for Nepal. The discussion also emphasized the need for expeditious completion of preparatory work on both sides to accelerate major connectivity projects, in line with the previously agreed-upon commitments.
