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By Our Reporter

Although Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China does not look encouraging if it is measured from the documents signed in Beijing on Tuesday, the issues included in the joint statement issued after the bilateral talks between the two prime ministers look highly encouraging.

Both countries have committed to strengthening connectivity and building railway tracks between them is also included in the joint statement. If the two countries remain honest in implementing the issues of the joint statement, the visit could be a breakthrough in further fostering Nepal-China cooperation in the days ahead. However, the division among the key parties regarding the BRI projects and the geopolitics could delay or even obstruct the implementation of the issues.

In the joint statement, Nepal and China have agreed to ensure timely and swift implementation of the agreements signed, consensus reached, and decisions made as well as completion of the programmes, projects and activities being carried out jointly by the two countries.

The two sides agreed to strengthen the synergy of their development strategies and pursue deeper and even more concrete high-quality Belt and Road (BRI) cooperation.

The two countries expressed their readiness to sign the MoU on building the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network and the Framework for Belt and Road Cooperation. These MoUs will be signed between the two governments as soon as possible, read the joint statement.

Both countries also expressed their commitment to strengthening connectivity between the two countries in such areas as ports, roads, railways, aviation, power grids and telecommunication, to help Nepal transform from a land-locked country to a land-linked country.

“The two sides agreed to jointly advance the fourth phase of the China-aided Araniko Highway maintenance project and the Hilsa-Simikot Road project, implement the second phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project and welcome the signing of the Letters of Exchange for the Approval of the China-aid Project of Feasibility Study for the Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel,” the joint statement read.

While promoting the project of repairing the Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Highway, both sides agreed to expedite the removal of obstacles along the highway and its subsequent construction. Likewise, Nepal and China have also agreed to expedite the construction of Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali economic corridors connecting the north and south borders of Nepal. They agreed to strengthen the development of ports of entry, enhance facilitation for customs clearance and two-way travel, promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and boost social and economic development of border areas.

 China will also facilitate the construction of the China-aided Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) and Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Korala, Mustang.

The two neighbours have also agreed to further deepen pragmatic cooperation in such fields aseconomy and trade, connectivity, infrastructure, investment, agriculture, industry, health, disaster relief and poverty alleviation to promote common development. They pledged to further strengthen trade exchanges to elevate the scale and level of two-way trade.

Other areas of cooperation mentioned in the joint statement are health and medical cooperation, emergency disaster relief, poverty alleviation, development, livelihood improvement and rural revitalisation. China has pledged its support to help Nepal strengthen the capacity building of personnel in relevant fields.