INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, JULY 13The government has said that discussions are on regarding implementation of the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) project.
National Assembly meeting postponed till July 9
What was that thing on Djokovic's chest at the French Open? He jokes it's connected to Iron Man
Nepal and China had signed an agreement on the BRI project in 2017.Delivering
a statement in the National Assembly meeting today, Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud said, "Discussions are being held between the two
countries regarding implementation of BRI."
Though the agreement on BRI was reached in 2017, no decision has been made so
far on the modality of moving ahead the projects.Before this, Ambassador of China to Nepal, Chen Song had claimed during the inauguration of
Pokhara International Airport on January 1, 2023 that a project under the BRI has been implemented.Foreign Affairs Minister Saud however
said that no project has been moved ahead under the BRI before this as well.As he said, feasibility study of the Kerung-Kathmandu Railway
and the Inter-country Power Transmission Line between the two countries is being carried out
These projects were signed during the visit of China's then Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Nepal in March 2022."Nepal's diplomatic efforts are
directed towards building independent opinion on international issues on the basis of merits and demerits, voting and making the
international ties just, fair, responsible and cooperative," FM Saud added.During the deliberation on budget and programme allocated for the
Foreign Ministry and subordinate bodies under the Appropriation Bill, 2060, former Foreign Minister Bimala Paudyal Rai enquired whether
Nepal is deviated from the non-aligned foreign policy.Stating that Nepal has been strengthening and expanding relations with other countries
including neighjbouring countries on the basis of universal equality, mutual respect and benefit, Minister Saud mentioned that Nepal has
been able to achieve credibility and respect in the world due to the independent, balanced, impartial and objective point of view it has
adopted.Foreign Minister Saud had participated in the Summit of Non-Aligned Movement held at Baku of Azerbaijan from July 3-6
The Foreign Minister briefed the upper house of the Federal Parliament about his address in the Summit."I had expressed commitment of the
Government of Nepal on collaboration for further highlighting the relevance and significance of the Non-Aligned Movement in the changing
international scenario as well as laid emphasis on solidarity and collaboration of Non-Aligned Movement member countries for the resolution
of burning political and economic issues of the world
Therefore, I would like to make it clear that Nepal's commitment towards adopting non-aligned foreign policy is consistent," he shared.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com
