KATHMANDU, March 19: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song has said that Chinese airlines are preparing to launch direct flights to the newly-built airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa.

In response to the request made by Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun at his office in Singha Durbar on Tuesday, Ambassador Chen underlined the need for permits for an air route and permissions for flight operations along the Pokhara-Kathmandu and Bhairahawa-Kathmandu routes as well.

Finance Minister Pun had sought cooperation from China to launch international flights targeting Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports.

During the meeting, Minister Pun also urged the Chinese side to expedite Chinese-funded development projects in Nepal, expressing his hope for rapid progress in these projects. He praised China's economic development and measures against poverty alleviation, suggesting Nepal could learn from China's experience.

Acknowledging Nepal's current economic slowdown, Minister Pun highlighted Nepali citizens' high aspirations for development and expressed hope for additional cooperation from bilateral and multilateral agencies.

He assured of prompt progress in implementing the second phase of the Ring Road expansion project funded by China, as well as the construction of the 220KV Jilong-Kerung-Rasuwagadhi-Chilime transmission line.

Minister Pun also inquired about the progress regarding the feasibility study for the 'Cross Himalayan Railway' project agreed upon during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's China visit in September last year. He said that the railway project remains a 'dream project' for Nepali citizens and urged its prompt implementation from the Chinese side.

Expressing gratitude for China's decision to operate Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi transit points regularly, Minister Pun called for opening other transit points along the Nepal-China border. He hoped for quick completion of the feasibility study regarding the Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel, a priority project for Nepal.

Minister Pun reminded Ambassador Chen of the upcoming third Nepal Investment Summit scheduled to be held on April 28-29  and invited Chinese investors to participate in it.

In response, Ambassador Chen insisted on implementing bilateral agreements reached during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Nepal in October 2019 and Dahal's visit to China. He pledged China's encouraging participation in the Nepal Investment Summit and expressed China's interest in investing in Nepal's agricultural, industrial, and technology sectors.

Shedding light on a long relationship and cooperation between Nepal and China, the ambassador was hopeful that the levels of cooperation and collaboration would further deepen in the days to come.

Wishing for the success of the Nepal Investment Summit, the ambassador pledged to encourage the participation of China in the event. Nepal's economic and social development is the concern and top priority of China and it is interested in investing in Nepal's agricultural, industrial, and technical sectors, he reportedly said.

China wants to join hands with Nepal in efforts to take China-Nepal relations to a new height, accelerate its development, and achieve prosperity, according to the Chinese envoy who assured deeper ties between the two neighbors in the days to come.

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