KATHMANDU, June 21: Chen Song, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, announced that Pokhara Airport is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project.
He made this statement during a program held after the first international commercial flight landed at Pokhara International Airport on Wednesday.
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During the airport's inauguration, Ambassador Song had previously stated that Pokhara International Airport was constructed as part of the BRI project. He mentioned in the program that the Chinese government had provided assistance in the design and construction of the airport, which was carried out by Chinese engineers.
Ambassador Song said, "Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated in January 2023. It was designed and constructed with the assistance of the Chinese government, utilizing the expertise of Chinese engineers. Finally, we have successfully witnessed the landing of an international flight at Pokhara International Airport. This achievement is a result of the BRI project."
The construction of Pokhara Airport commenced on August 2, 2016, following an agreement between the Nepalese government and the Chinese state-owned contractor CAMCE. The contract, which included value-added tax (VAT), was signed for a total amount of US$ 244.04 million. To fund the project, the Nepalese government signed a loan agreement with China's Exim Bank in 2015, securing a loan of 1.378 billion Chinese Yuan.
