Kathmandu: Nepal and China issued a joint statement on Monday during the visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China on the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang. Nepal Live Today presents major highlights of the joint statement:
Strategic partnership: According to the statement, the two sides acknowledged the Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, the point included in the statement during President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Nepal in 2019. The two sides agreed that PM’s visit is of great significance to advancing the China-Nepal Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity.
BRI cooperation, trade and transit: The two sides agreed to accelerate the implementation of the past agreements signed and the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, and, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the principle of good neighborliness and friendship, strengthen strategic communication, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. They also agreed to finalize the text on the BRI Implementation Plan at an early date. They expressed readiness to deepen and solidify Belt and Road cooperation. They agreed to strengthen connectivity in such areas as ports, roads, railways, airways and grids in an orderly manner, jointly build the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, work together to ensure the safety of the cooperation projects and company personnel of the two countries, and contribute to Nepal’s realization of its development agenda including graduating from the least developed country status at an early date.
The two sides welcomed the successful opening of the Korala port and the reopening of the Khasa port to passenger services. The Chinese side will extend its support to improve the facilities on the Nepali side of the Korala port at the earliest possible time. The Chinese side agreed to work for the early reopening of eligible traditional China-Nepal border trade points. The two sides agreed to maintain communication for the opening of Kimathanka and Olangchungola ports at an early date. Besides, they also agreed to continue to implement the signed cooperation documents concerning transit transport and utilization of highways in China to help turn Nepal from a land-locked country to a land-linked country. Both sides agreed to accelerate the feasibility study of the Tokha-Chhare Tunnel project. They agreed to expedite the implementation of the second phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road project.
The two sides welcomed the consensus reached between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries on expanding the air rights arrangements, and expressed satisfaction over the completion and operation of the Pokhara International Airport. The two sides support and encourage their airlines to resume and open more flights and air routes, including ones connecting Pokhara, in accordance with bilateral air rights arrangements and in light of market needs, so as to facilitate trade and economic interactions and people-to-people exchanges.
Energy cooperation: The two sides will further promote cooperation in the field of energy, particularly the development of hydropower and cross-border transmission lines and associated substations. The two sides will continue working toward the finalization of China-Nepal Electric Power Cooperation Plan by convening the second meeting of the Joint Implementation Mechanism at the earliest. The two sides will launch the construction of the Jilong/Keyrung-Rasuwagadhi-Chilime 220 KV Cross-Border Power Transmission line at an early date.
The Chinese side agreed to positively consider the request made by the Nepali side for supplying grid power to electrify northern remote villages of Nepal from Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and take overall consideration of providing equipments or technology on commercial terms.
Reaffirmation of one-China policy: The Nepali side reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle. Recognizing that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, the Nepali side is against “Taiwan independence.” The Nepali side reiterated that Tibet affairs are China’s internal affairs, that it will never allow any separatist activities against China on Nepal’s soil.
Joint inspection of Nepal-China boundary: The two sides agreed to undertake joint inspection of China-Nepal boundary. The two sides agreed to bring into force the Agreement the Government of China and the Government of Nepal on the Boundary Management System as soon as possible. The two sides agreed to continue consultations on the Protocol between the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal on the Establishment of Boundary Contact System at Three Levels, so as to elevate the level of border management and cooperation between the two countries.
Nepal supports GDI: The Nepali side supports the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by China, and will consider to join the Group of Friends of the GDI. The Chinese side is ready to strengthen experience sharing on development with the Nepali side.
Full text of the joint statement can be read here.
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