'Chinese cooperation important for Nepal's prosperity'

By Mahendra Subedi, Kathmandu, Jan 28: National Assembly (NA) Vice-Chairperson Urmila Aryal has said that China's cooperation was important for Nepal's prosperity and development.     

Addressing the Joint Consultation Conference of Nepalese political parties and Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday, Vice-Chairperson Aryal said the close engagements and increased communication and cooperation between Nepal and China have been instrumental in further consolidating our relations “bound by mountains and rivers, and stay as close as lips and teeth.     

On the occasion, she said that it is our joint responsibility to foster and nurture the relationships between our societies, including the historic Silk Road Civilizations, which are updated in the Belt and Road Initiative, or the BRI 2.0. She viewed that the BRI is such an important land route for Nepal to access Central Asia and the Eurasia.     

"Of equal importance here is to design the institutional modalities and the financing mechanisms, and their work plans for many of the development programs envisioned in the 13-Point Agreements."     

The financing modalities for the Sino-Nepal cooperation programmes may be developed by pooling resources from the various multi/bilateral grants and loans based on the principles of equity, affordability, market conditions, public goods, and clean and green development agenda.     

She said that this Joint Consultation Conference was only a very natural process given that the Nepal-China relations have matured profoundly and are growing rapidly. "Our generations have closely witnessed how sound the relations between Nepal and China have been. I recall some historical landmarks such as the meeting between then Prime Minister B P Koirala and Chairman Mao Zedong in March 1960, followed by the Nepal-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship in April 1960, the establishment of the Nepal-China Friendship (Arniko) Highway, and so forth," she added.     

She added that Nepal is dedicated to the upliftment of our people’s prosperity as per our common heritages of Buddhism and Confucianism.     

In her remarks, the National Assembly Vice-Chairperson underlined the need to make parliamentary friendship groups and overall political interaction more active, more regular, and more productive between Nepal and China. "Such close interaction can support and facilitate not only in a range of issues of our mutual concern but also in promoting the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction in community building with a shared future for humankind," she believed.     

On the occasion, she said Nepal’s adherence to the “One China Principle” was our firm commitment, unequivocal, straightforward, and unshakable. The changes in our domestic and external situations has not influenced this position.     

Likewise, Vice Minister of International Department of CPC Sun Haiyan said the recent visits of the leaders from both countries have taken the Nepal-China relations to a new high and the peoples of the two countries have expected higher level of cooperation. "The most talked about issue here (in Nepal) is China in the new era and further fostering the ties," she said.     

Vice Minister Sun argued that Nepal-China relations in new era and roles of political parties in deepening bilateral relations should be focused in the upcoming days. She said tourism could also be a good thing to promote our relations but underscored the need of developing more infrastructures in Nepal.     

The CPC leader called for policy reforms in Nepal to bring in more Chinese investment. The projects on Nepal are delayed not only due to Covid-19 but due to several other factors, according to Sun. "We are planning to implement more and more projects to uplift the livelihood of people but policy reforms are required here so that the projects would ensure better results to the people," she argued.     

Also speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song said that the agreements signed between Nepal and China during the recent visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' have cleared several things to advance our relations in a new direction. "We have to chart out our future path by keeping the people at the centre," Ambassador Chen said.     

He pointed out that animal husbandry could be a game changer cooperation for Nepal’s development and China was willing to cooperate with Nepal in this sector.     

Similarly, CPN (UML) General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel said that the government should be ready to advance the BRI projects in Nepal at the earliest possible time and suggested that Nepal should identify projects to run under the BRI framework. On the occasion, Pokhrel urged the Chinese side to open the China borders that were closed in the time of the pandemic.     

Likewise, Nepali Congress leader Dr Shashanka Koirala said Nepal is willing to cooperate with China in development endavours.     

Former Deputy Prime Minister CP Mainali, General Secretary of CPN (Maoist Centre) Dev Gurung, leaders Ram Karki, Dinanath Sharma, Hitraj Pandey and Girirajmani Pokharel, leaders of Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), Rastriya Prajatantra Party, scholars, business leaders and attended the event.(RSS)