Govt approves development agreement plan with China

Kathmandu, Dec. 2: The government has approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the development plans with China for the period of 2025-2029.

During a Cabinet meeting held on Sunday evening at the Official Residence of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Baluwatar, Government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, announced the decision. 

The meeting authorised the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to sign the MoU on behalf of the Nepal government. 

According to Gurung, the government also approved an MoU related to implementing a Chinese Language Development Programme in Nepal and authorised the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology to sign the agreement and implement it.

The government approved the draft exchange of notes to accept a proposed cash grant of USD 20 million, authorising the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to sign the documents on Nepal’s behalf.

Similarly, an agreement to accept financial and technical assistance equivalent to 300 million RMB was approved, with the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance authorised to sign the agreement. 

Additionally, the Cabinet approved a MoU between Nepal Television, Radio Nepal, and the China Media Group, delegating authority to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sign the agreement.

The Cabinet also decided to promote Ram Prasad Ghimire, the Technical Joint Secretary, to the position of Technical Secretary. 

It extended thanks to all parties for making the local-level by-elections peaceful and successful and wished success for the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to the People's Republic of China.

During Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to China, several agreements are expected to be finalised, including the construction of border checkpoints to regulate major border points such as Kathmandu Ring Road, Araniko Highway, Hilsa-Simikot, and Korala. 

Agreements will also cover projects like the Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel Road, the feasibility study of the Kerung-Kathmandu Cross-Border Railway Project, the construction of a friendship bridge over the Arun River on the Khandbari-Kimathanka Road, and the establishment of a multifunctional quarantine laboratory in Chobhar, Kathmandu. 

Plans also include an agricultural infrastructure development park and an industrial zone in Korala.

An agreement to initiate bone marrow transplant services at the BP Koirala Cancer Hospital in Chitwan was also mentioned. Other projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are being planned.

China has committed to providing 100 electric vehicles, 100 police vans, 50 school buses, and 50 ambulances as part of its support for Nepal’s development within five years.

The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations, according to Minister Gurung.

Govt fixes minimum purchase price of sugarcane Meanwhile, the government has set the minimum buying rate for sugarcane produced by farmers at Rs. 585 per quintal. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on November 28 took the decision to this effect. 

"The purchase rate of sugarcane is set for the current fiscal year based on the production cost, transportation fares and a profit margin," according to Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung at a press conference organised on Sunday to make the Cabinet decisions public.

The government has also announced a subsidy of Rs. 70 per quintal in the sugarcane that was produced by the farmers in the current fiscal.

The Cabinet meeting held on November 28 also decided to accept a grant assistance of USD 22 million and loan assistance of USD 10 million to be provided by the ADB for the Climate Resilient Landscapes 

and Livelihood Project.

Further, the government has decided to accept concessional loan of USD 110 million and USD 15 million as grant assistance to be provided by the ADB for implementing Mechanised Irrigation Innovation Project.

The government had also endorsed the visit of Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari to take part in the 29th Partnership Summit to be held in New Delhi, India, and given permission to sign in a MoU to be reached between Nepal government and International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Minister Bhandari left for Delhi to take part in the same Summit on 

Sunday (December 1).

Further, the government has given permission to sign another MoU to be reached between the Nepal government, the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), and the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).

The government has given permission to use government land for the construction of the administrative building of Gokarneshwar Municipality, Kathmandu. 

Likewise, a separate cabinet meeting held on November 25 decided to approve the framework agreement on the projects to be financed under Finland's Public Investment Facility between the government of Nepal and Finland. 

The government has also approved the visit of the Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City Dhana Raj Acharya from December 18 to 25 to South Korea to observe and study the method of solid waste management there.