‘Nepal committed to implement Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects’
By Ramesh Tiwari —
Kathmandu, Oct.8 – Political figures, academicians and experts have pointed out the need to explore Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects on the basis of mutual interest and implement the programs for prosperity of the country at a seminar with the theme of ‘A Decade of BRI: Deepening Trade, Investment, Connectivity and Academic Relations ‘ here today.
People from different sectors of socio-economic life attended the seminar organized by the Nepal-China Friendship Forum and Friends of Silk Road Club – Nepal.
Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the initiative of constructing the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road In a visionary move in September 2013 .
The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing on October 17-18 with participation of more than 100 countries, marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, in his inaugural address, reiterated government’s commitment to implement the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects and stressed on the need for financing mechanisms and models in greater detail and expedite the implementation of BRI projects.
Stating that he fully agreed with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s statement that Nepal would become a land-linked from a landlocked country, he said, “Questions have often been raised regarding the delay of the project. The COVID-19 pandemic and our infrastructural limitations are also blamed for this delay. However, Nepal wants to speed up development and prosperity through the BRI implementation.”
PM Dahal highly evaluated 12 agreements and understandings signed during his recent official visit to China hoping that increasing Chinese investment and technology transfer would contribute socio-economic transformation of Nepal in the years ahead.
“Nepal firmly is in favour of one-China policy and will remain committed to the policy. Nepali territories will not be allowed to be used for anti-Chinese activities,” he said.
He also emphasized on trilateral partnership and cooperation between China, India and Nepal for common prosperity.
Prof. Dr. Yubraj Sangraoula , highlighting on relations established 1,600 years ago and importance of Ancient Silk Road , opined that Nepal could benefit from BRI projects and construction of Himalayan corridor.
‘Nepal should be cautious from anti-China propaganda in the country,” he added.
Chen Song, Ambassador of China to Nepal, said that a series of fruitful results achieved since China and Nepal inked a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation in 2017.
“China and Nepal should strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, energy, tourism, agriculture and other sectors. China will support Nepal for its socio-economic transformation and prosperity through BRI cooperation, “he added.
Similarly, Dinesh Bhattarai, Prof. Achyut Wagle, Dr. Khagendra Prasain , Deependra Bahadur Chhetri , Dr. Surya Ra Acharya , Kamalesh Agrawal, Dr. Saroj Dhital and Jhalak Subedi shed light on different issues of BRI in the two plenary sessions .
Dr. Kalyan Raj Sharma, Chairman of the Nepal-China Friendship Forum and General Secy. of FSRC – Nepal, said that the BRI has evolved significantly, reshaping global trade, investment partners, connectivity networks and cooperation across borders during one decade of this initiative.
“Nepal should try to explore benefits from this transformative infrastructure and economic development projects of the 21st century and implement BRI projects at the earliest for overall prosperity of the country, “he added.
According to official statistics of China, 151 countries and 32 international organizations have signed over 200 cooperation agreements with China under the BRI framework. The initiative has evolved into an internationally acclaimed platform for open, inclusive, mutually beneficial and win-win international cooperation over the past decade, and has been warmly advocated by an increasing number of countries.
The BRI is an active international cooperation platform for the cause of peace, security, sustainable development and common prosperity.
The recent proposals Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) have garnered support from over 100 countries.
Nepal and China signed MoU on bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative on 12 May 2017.
8 October 2023
