Beijing, Sept 25: Nepal and China on Monday signed various agreements. The deals were inked during a bilateral meeting held at the Great Hall of the People led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang. Prime Minister Dahal is on a week-long visit to the northern neighbour.
The agreements pertaining to various ministries were signed by the secretaries of the concerned departments of both countries.
An agreement of collaboration has been reached between the National Development and Reform Commission of China and Nepal’s National Planning Commission.
The Chinese commission also signed an understanding with the Nepali Finance Ministry to work towards the development of the digital economy. Similarly, Chinese officials also signed an agreement with the Ministry of Forestry and Environment of Nepal for the development of green and low-carbon energy.
A Memorandum of Understanding on the production and distribution of various goods in the northern hilly region of Nepal signed between the two countries in 2017, was also exchanged. The documents were exchanged between Nepal’s Ambassador to China Bishnu Pukar Shrestha and Chinese officials.
Likewise, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal have also agreed to cooperate for the development of agriculture, livestock and fisheries. The agreement was signed by Rewati Raman Poudel and Chinese officials.
The livestock development ministry also reached an agreement with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China regarding the protocol for the export of plants for medicinal production from Nepal to China.
During the meeting, the two neighbours also agreed to form a joint technical working committee to review and amend the Nepal-China Trade and Payment Agreement signed in 1981. The agreement was signed between the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply of Nepal.
Similarly, the Chinese Department of Press and Publication and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal have also reached an agreement regarding the translation and publication of ancient texts.
An agreement has been reached between the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China to cooperate in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese officials on disaster management materials, human resources, and the Hilsa-Simkot road project.
Prime Minister Dahal, Chinese Premier Li hold bilateral talks in Beijing
Earlier, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The prime minister was accorded a guard of honour at the Great Hall of the People before the meeting.
Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala, Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation Mahindra Raya Yadav and other ministers are also attending the meeting. After the delegation-level talks, some agreements and memorandums of understanding will be signed between Nepal and China.
Earlier today, the prime minister held a meeting with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhao Leji. At the meeting held at the Great Hall of the People, they discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, according to Prime Minister Dahal’s secretariat.
The prime minister reached Beijing on Sunday from Hangzhou where he attended the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games and met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday.
On Sunday, the prime minister addressed the Nepal-China Business Summit to be held in Beijing and called for more Chinese investments in Nepal.
“Nepal is a land of untapped opportunities where business can thrive, and entrepreneurs and investments are welcomed. Among other things, our demographic dividend, with a majority of youthful citizens and a median age of 24 years, puts us in a great position to grow business,” he said.
PM Dahal held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday. He told the Chinese president that Nepal supports a series of important concepts and initiatives proposed by him.
“Nepal supports a series of important concepts and initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and is willing to work with China to promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” a statement issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Prime Minister Dahal as saying.
– Kathmandu Post
