National
China ‘willing’ to respond to Nepal’s infrastructure needs
China has said the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank opens new avenues for Nepal to obtain infrastructure development financing.China has said the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank opens new avenues for Nepal to obtain infrastructure development financing.
According to a press statement issued by the Embassy of China in Kathmandu, Beijing and Kathmandu will jointly promote the procedures on Free Trade Agreement Negotiation between two countries, which will further enhance the bilateral trade relations.
China’s aid and investment in Nepal include Arniko Highway, Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway, Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Highway, Kathmandu Ring Road, International Convention Centre, Banepa Polytechnic Institute and Civil Service Hospital.
Last year, during the devastating earthquake period, the Chinese government responded quickly and within 40 days China provided Nepal with 3 batches of relief goods, including tent, tarpaulin, generator and first-aid package among others, worth around 140 million RMB (approximately Rs 2.3 billion).
As Nepal gears up to reconstruct damaged houses and infrastructure, the AIIB could be of great help.
The statement added that China is willing to respond to the desire and needs of Nepal, strongly support and help Nepal for post-disaster reconstruction, enhance the mutual beneficial cooperation in all kinds of fields, and promote development level of all-round cooperative partnership between China and Nepal.
“China is the world’s largest developing country. In its development, it has endeavoured to integrate the interests of the Chinese people with people of other countries, providing assistance to the best of its ability to other developing countries, especially the least developed countries, to reduce poverty and improve livelihood. China has pro-actively promoted international development and cooperation and played a constructive role in this aspect,” the statement said.
“In 2014, China initiated the ‘One Belt and One Road’ Strategy, which is not a Chinese solo, but a real chorus comprising all countries along the routes. It aims to realise mutual benefit and win-win development through exchanges and cooperation in policy, trade, currency, infrastructure, humanity and other aspects under the principle of joint negotiation, construction and sharing. Nepal will surely accomplish and benefit much from it.”