INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, MARCH 26Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Khadka and State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of
China Wang Yi held official talks at Singha Durbar, in Kathmandu this afternoon.
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The two ministers discussed all
important aspects of Nepal-China relations and cooperation, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Both sides underscored the importance of exchange of high-level visits on a regular basis for strengthening mutual trust and confidence and
further consolidating Nepal-China relations.
Foreign Minister Khadka reiterated Nepal's commitment to 'One China policy'
and not allowing any activity against China on Nepali territory.Both sides reaffirmed their support for sovereignty, territorial integrity,
and each other's national independence.Khadka appreciated the Government of China for consistently supporting Nepal's development endeavors,
and thanked the Chinese side for completion of development projects such as Araniko Highway Long-term Opening Maintenance Project (Phase
III) and Pokhara International Regional Airport.The two foreign ministers also underscored the need for concerted efforts to expedite the
execution of ongoing projects as well as to implement agreements and understandings reached between the two countries during high-level
visits.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang assured development assistance committed to Nepal by President Xi Jinping during his State visit in
October 2019.The two foreign ministers stressed the need of continued partnership to overcome challenges of the COV- ID-19 pandemic and to
focus on COVID-19 response and recovery.Khadka thanked the Government of China for its continuous support during the fight against COVID-19,
including the support of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines and medical equipment
The Chinese foreign minister assured that China would provide COVID-19 vaccines and other medical supplies needed by Nepal.Both the sides
also focused on issues related to trade, investment and tourism
They underscored the need to fully operationalise the Tatopani-Zhangmu and Rasuwagadi-Kerung border ports for two-way movement of goods
The two ministers have instructed their relevant authorities to work together to this end.With a view to promoting tourism and
people-to-people contacts between the two countries, the two foreign ministers agreed to resume, at an early date, the passenger air
services suspended due to the COV- ID-19 pandemic.Underlining the importance of continuously maintaining peace and tranquility on the
Nepal-China border in the spirit of the boundary treaty, the two foreign ministers agreed to carry out joint inspection of Nepal-China
boundary through mutual consultation.Wang assured Khadka full cooperation of the Government of China in facilitating the return of Nepali
students to China to continue their studies on priority basis and agreed to start the process at the earliest.The two ministers also
discussed continued cooperation in various regional and multilateral forums on matters of mutual interests.Following the bilateral talks,
the two foreign ministers witnessed the signing and exchange of nine agreements and documents: They include agreement on economic and
technical cooperation, technical assistance scheme for China-Aid feasibility, study of China-Nepal cross-border railway project, cooperation
agreement on the feasibility study of Nepal-China power grid interconnection, protocol on the safety and health condition for export of
haylage from Nepal to China, exchange of letters on duty-free treatment to be provided by China to goods of Nepali origin covering 98 per
cent tariff lines, handover Certificate of Araniko Highway Maintenance Project (Phase III), and minutes of the seventh meeting between Nepal
and China on enhancing cooperation in the railway sector.Similarly, the agreements also include protocol on sending a Chinese medical team
to work in Nepal at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, delivery and acceptance certificate of China aided COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal (fifth
and sixth batches) of four million Vero cell vaccines.As per the Agreement on economic and technical cooperation, China has agreed to
provide Nepal with a grant of RMB 600 million for the year 2020.The grant will be utilised for projects mutually agreed upon between the two
governments.Later today, Wang paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at his official residence in Baluwatar.Following the
courtesy call, the Chinese foreign minister, in the presence of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, handed over a model key of Pokhara
Regional International Airport to Foreign Minister Khadka amidst a special ceremony held at Baluwatar to mark the completion of the
construction of the airport.Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale handed over the completion
certificate of the airport to the Chinese side amidst a brief ceremony held in Pokhara.In the evening, Minister Khadka hosted dinner in
honour of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the visiting delegation.Wang will call on President Bidhya Devi Bhandari tomorrow.A version
of this article appears in the print on March 27, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com