Statement issued by Hon’ble Surendra Kumar Karki, Minister for Information of Nepal in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation during thematic session on Connectivity of development Policies and Strategies
Mr. Chair Person
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I feel honored to speak before this august gathering on behalf of the people and Government of Nepal, on the theme “Connectivity of Development Policies and Strategies”. I also express my gratitude to the Government of China for warm hospitality accorded to Nepal delegation upon its arrival to Beijing.
In the interdependent global order development policies, of developing countries like Nepal, are heavily impacted by the others which requires proper understanding and coordination for optimum outputs. Nepal’s geographical location, as a part of belt and road initiative, provides unique opportunity to synergize the benefit of connectivity with Central Asia, Europe, North and East Asia to South Asia. We need to explore the opportunities to enhance connectivity supported by policy coordination for inclusive, sustainable and harmonious development with shared vision ensuring shared prosperity. We have to formulate our strategies and policies to complement and also to benefit from this grand trans-national initiative. We take this initiative as a geo-economic enterprise and are set to reap geographical advantage and share the benefit to everyone in the process.
Our excessive dependence on development assistance has reduced our flexibility to choose alternative policy framework thus have not been able to optimize the development results. Economic development induced by connectivity towards China, also taking account of ecology consideration, would definitely help us find alternative policy choices. Once we are connected by railroad of China a new era of possibility will certainly emerge.
The major reason of Nepal’s low economic growth and excessive time taken to implement the development projects is due to poor connectivity between and among the regions. Therefore, the government of Nepal has accorded highest priority for the development of infrastructure pertaining to connectivity.
As we are intended to embark on mutual cooperation mechanism under the belt and road initiative, let us find some synergy in outcomes from the policies and projects related to connectivity that we introduce. On behalf of the government of Nepal, I would like to assure all associated with B & R initiative that Nepal is ready to work together with you for realizing the goal of creating harmonious and prosperous society for more equitable and just global order. I wish the Forum a success. Thank you.