Talking to media persons upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Thapa said the assistance is worth 10 million RMB. A 10-member government delegation led by Thapa returned home on the day.
Earlier in October, China had provided 1.3 million liters of petrol in grant to help Nepal cope with the fuel crisis due to Indian blockade.
“The primary objective of the visit was to develop a framework for enhanced economic relation between the two countries and we have succeeded in doing that,” Thapa said, adding, “The visit has further strengthened bilateral relations between the two countries.”
Thapa also informed that China has agreed to establish long-term fuel trade with Nepal. “China has expressed commitment to start petroleum trade with Nepal after settling issues related to taxes, connectivity and rates by consulting the issues with responsible government bodies,” he added. Thapa further said China has agreed to open different boarder points to enhance bilateral trade and help to operate Rasuwagadhi-Syafrubesi road round the year.
He also said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will make official visit of China very soon.
The Deputy PM also said commercial petroleum trade agreement between Nepal and China would be signed during Prime Minister Oli's China visit in the beginning of 2016.
The visiting team signed an eight-point agreement with China last week. Among others, the two countries have agreed to construct dry ports on both sides of Nepal-China border, establish customs points, and take forward the study on Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA). The two sides have also agreed to build highways linking two countries and support in Nepal's industrialization process through reconstruction.
China has also agreed to give priority to the reopening of Tatopani-Zhangmu border point, which has been disrupted by the earthquake, according to Thapa.
Though Deputy PM Thapa said Chinese has announced another petroleum grant, officials of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) say they do not have any information about the development. “We are yet to receive information about it,” Mukunda Ghimire, spokesperson of NOC, said.
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