Miscellaneous
3 panels to work on BRI projects
The government has decided to form three panels to implement the framework deal on the Belt and Road Initiative signed with China by working on project selection, technical assessment and coordination with Beijing.The government has decided to form three panels to implement the framework deal on the Belt and Road Initiative signed with China by working on project selection, technical assessment and coordination with Beijing.
A recent Cabinet meeting formed the panels headed by the foreign secretary, the finance secretary and secretaries from various ministries who undertake the projects that the Nepali side negotiates with Chinese authorities.
Chief Secretary Somlal Subedi told the Post that the teams will work on the basis of their terms of reference. As proposed by the Foreign Ministry, ministry-wise subcommittees will be formed to move projects under the BRI, a flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The finance secretary will coordinate and facilitate the selection of projects and forward the concept to the foreign secretary, who will hold meetings with the relevant stakeholders before pitching them with the Chinese authorities.
A subcommittee led by secretaries from several ministries will provide technical support to the foreign and finance secretaries. These thematic and sectoral subcommittees will prepare technical details of the projects, Secretary Subedi said.
Subcommittees will be formed at the ministries of Finance, Physical Infrastructure, Commerce, and Industry, and the National Planning Commission.
These mechanisms will choose projects and negotiate with China and monitor progress. Officials said the developments are aimed at demonstrating that Nepal is seriously working to implement the framework agreement. That was also to clear doubts on the Chinese side.
In a recent visit to Kathmandu and during meetings with top political leaders, a high-level Chinese delegation led by Assistant Minister Kong Xuanyou had expressed concern that implementation of the past accords remains the key challenge in Nepal-China relations.
A meeting of the project selection committee will be convened soon, said officials.