Press Release
Nepal and the People’s Republic of China held official meeting in Kathmandu today. During the meeting The Hon’ble Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development and H.E. Wang Yang, Vice-Premier of the State Council of China led the Nepali and Chinese delegations respectively.
Both sides reviewed entire gamut of bilateral relations and cooperation. The Hon’ble Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Nepal’s One China Policy including the principled position of not allowing its territory to be used against the neighbours.
Both sides laid emphasis on the importance of exchanging high level visits in further strengthening the existing bilateral relations.
While expressing condolences and sympathies to the victims of recent natural disasters in Nepal, the Vice-Premier announced the cash amount of US$ One million as humanitarian assistance from the Chinese Government to the Government of Nepal.
Appreciating the continuous assistance provided by the Chinese Government for socio-economic development of Nepal, The Hon’ble Deputy Prime Minister expressed happiness that the bilateral cooperation between the two countries has been expanding in recent time to cover various important aspects.
Both sides held substantive discussions on further enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, tourism, investment, infrastructure development, energy, cross-border connectivity and people-to-people relations.
In the context of the Chinese Government’s announcement of 2017 as Nepal Tourism Promotion Year in China, both sides agreed for joint cooperation and collaboration in promoting Nepal’s tourism in China.
Both sides agreed to enhance the functions and facilities at Nepal-China border ports. In the context of bilateral agreement signed today on utilization of reconstruction grant of the Chinese Government in the restoration of border bridges and Tatopani port, Nepali side reiterated its request to the Chinese side for early opening of the Tatopani-Zhangmu border port.
The two sides agreed to hold regular meetings of established bilateral mechanisms including the Joint Economic and Trade Committee.
Included in the Nepali delegation were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon’ble Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Hon’ble Ministers of Health; Finance; Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; Commerce; Ambassador of Nepal to China; Secretaries of different ministries and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal. Chinese delegation comprised of Deputy Secretary General of the State Council; Vice Ministers of the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Commerce; Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; Chinese Ambassador to Nepal; senior officials of the State Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
The meeting was followed by the signing of bilateral agreements on economic cooperation. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development Hon’ble Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon’ble Krishna Bahadur Mahara from the Nepali side and Vice Premier H.E. Wang Yang and Ambassador of China to Nepal H.E. Yu Hong from the Chinese side witnessed the signing of the agreements. Dr. Shanta Raj Subedi, Secretary, Ministry of Finance of the Government of Nepal and H.E Yu Jianhua, Vice Minister and Deputy International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China signed the following agreements on behalf of their respective governments:
1. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation
2. Framework Agreement on Promotion of Investment and Economic Cooperation
3. Letters of Exchange for Oil and Gas Resources Exploration in Nepal
The Hon’ble Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar hosted a luncheon in honour of the Vice-Premier and his delegation.
Earlier this morning, the Vice-Premier and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs jointly commenced the nine-storied Bashantapur Durbar Restoration Project at Kathmandu Durbar Square. On the occasion, Hon’ble Jeetendra Narayan Dev, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and H.E Yu Jianhua, Vice Minister and Deputy International Trade Representative of Ministry of Commerce of China made brief remarks on behalf of their respective governments.
H. E. Yang arrived in Kathmandu yesterday evening. He was received at the VIP lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport by Hon’ble Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Ambassador of Nepal to China H.E. Leela Mani Paudyal and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kathmandu
15 August 2017