15-pt joint statement issued in Beijing
KATHMANDU, March 23: Nepal and China on Wednesday issued a 15-point joint statement with the Chinese side expressing commitment to strengthen connectively between the two countries by constructing necessary transport infrastructures including a railways network in Nepal.
The communiqué comes two days after Nepal and China signed a 10-point agreement including the transit treaty.
Nepal-China railway to boost bilateral, regional connectivity :...
A key highlight of the joint statement issued by the two countries following Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's official week-long visit to China states that the relevant authorities of both sides will exchange ideas and proposal on constructing cross border railways and railways network in Nepal and support enterprises to start necessary preparatory work for constructing the railway networks as soon as possible.
Likewise, it also stated that the Chinese side has agreed to take necessary steps for repairing and reopening Araniko and Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi highways, building a bridge over the Karnali River at Hilsa of Pulan/Yari port. The Chinese side agreed to provide financial support on preferential terms for Pokhara Regional International Airport while the Nepalese side requested the Chinese side to provide assistance for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) and construction of a two-lane Kimathanka-Khandbari-Dhankuta road.
Both sides have also agreed to explore cross border economic cooperation zones via existing border points and also to speed up opening up other border and trade crossing points as mutually agreed upon.
The Chinese side has also decided to accelerate the Kathmandu Ring Road expansion project while the Nepali side will have to provide necessary cooperation to resolve some pending issues related to the project.
Likewise, the statement stated that the two sides will maintain the momentum of high-level mutual visits, and hold meetings between the leaders on the bilateral and multilateral occasions to share views on important issues of common interests.
The statement stated that the Chinese side has pledged to provide 3 billion RMB grant assistance from 2016 till 2018 to support the post disaster reconstruction work in Nepal including restoration of the damaged cultural and historical sites.
Likewise, the Chinese side will provide more than 32,000 sets of household solar power generation system, build small-size education and public health facilities, and enhance cooperation with the Nepa government on adopting disaster preparedness and mitigation measures.
The Chinese side also welcomed promulgation of the new constitution and regarded it as a historic progress in the political transition of Nepal. Similarly, both sides have agreed to negotiate Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Treaty on Extradition in order to strengthen cooperation on the administration of border areas and fight illegal border crossing and transnational crimes.
The statement also read that the Chinese side is willing to increase the number of government scholarships to Nepali students pursuing higher education in China in order to enhance people-to-people contacts.
The two sides have also agreed to increase cooperation in multilateral forums including in the United Nations on issues of mutual interests like climate change, energy and food security, among other things.
In order to facilitate trade, tourism and investment between the two countries, the Chinese side will allow Chinese-funded banks to open branches in Nepal in accordance with relevant policies and regulations. For that, the Nepali side is expected to provide policy and regulation facilities for Chinese-funded banks to enter the Nepal market, according to the statement.
The statement said that the China-Nepal relationship has reached a new height and both sides will inherit and carry forward traditional friendship and deepen cooperation.
