China visit fruitful: Minister Khadka

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 2: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Dipak Khadka has said that his one-week official visit to China was fruitful. After returning to Nepal, Minister Khadka said that he participated in various important discussions and agreements with China and informed them about the development of Nepal's energy sector and future plans.

Minister Khadka returned home last night after participating in the fifth Energy Ministerial Meeting organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Ningbo city, Zhejiang province of China. 

During his visit to China, Minister Khadka shared his views on Nepal's energy strategy and long-term cooperation at the fifth Energy Ministerial Meeting by SCO.

In the meeting, he informed about Nepal's upcoming energy plan and also discussed the target of generating 28,500 MW of electricity by 2035 and the plan to export 15,000 MW of electricity. Minister Khadka emphasised on further strengthening cooperation with China in the future. 

According to him, "Energy is no longer just a matter of trade, it is the basis of our sustainable development and shared prosperity. Nepal now plans to take the energy sector forward as a major driver."

During his visit to China, Minister Khadka also held a bilateral meeting with China's head of the National Energy Administration Wang Hongzhi, according to minister's Khadka secretariat.

During the meeting, the prospects for long-term cooperation and technology transfer between Nepal and China in the field of energy security were discussed, said Minister Khadka.  He expressed his expectation for cooperation with China in the areas of hydropower, transmission system expansion, alternative energy promotion and capacity development.

During the visit, Minister Khadka urged the Nepali community in China to invest in Nepal's energy sector and other sectors, saying, "Nepal has now taken a step forward in terms of energy sector vision and the government has taken additional initiatives to create an investment environment."

With the aim of creating an investment environment in Nepal, he participated in a trade festival organised in China and discussed the improved environment and various initiatives for investing in Nepal.