Biratnagar, 19 December: Speakers at an event have emphasized that Prosperity in Nepal will be possible through China’s important global project’Belt and Road Initiative'(BRI). Speakers expressed such statement on the theme ‘Nepal-China Cultural and Economic Relations from Past to Present’ at an interaction organized by Friendship Forum for Nepalese Journalists in Biratnagar on Wednesday.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Bhupendra Rai stressed that the BRI should not be made controversial under any pretext. Stating that the cultural and economic relations between Nepal and China are very old, Minister Rai made it clear that the BRI should not be disputed as grant or loan. At the same time, Minister Rai said that the country’s immature foreign policy would be only a ladder for political parties to come to power.
Former Minister for Social Development of Koshi Province as well as CPN-UML leader Jeevan Ghimire claimed that the BRI project was in the interest of Nepal. Ghimire, a former minister, believed that the BRI would separate Nepal from its dependence on India. He said the BRI, which is linked to the prosperity of the world, should be linked to Nepal’s infrastructure development and connectivity. Former Minister Ghimire was of the view that the BRI project would make Nepal prosperous and everyone should welcome it as it was linked to it.
Former Minister of Koshi Province and province lawmaker Leela Ballabh Adhikari stressed the need to use China’s development for the development of Nepal’s education, health, agriculture and tourism sectors. Stating that Nepal was committed to one China policy, the former minister said the BRI-related projects carried out during Prime Minister Oli’s recently concluded official visit to China should be welcomed.
Province Assembly member of Koshi province and former minister Ganesh Prasad Upreti said Nepal could get significant support from China’s BRI project. He, however, expressed concern that the present government would not be able to fulfill the practical aspect of the BRI agreement.
State Assembly member of Koshi Province Shobha Chemjong Palungwa said Nepal and China have historical relations since ancient times.She recalled that China has provided significant support to Nepal’s infrastructure development. Palungwa said nepal-China trade relations have further developed through the Kodari Highway constructed with the support of the Chinese government. Lawmaker Palungwa stressed the need for the Chinese government’s support to Nepal’s tourism destinations through publicity as China can contribute a lot in the development of Nepal’s tourism sector. Province Assembly member of Koshi Province as well as Chief Whip of CPN-UML Koshi Province, Bidur Lingthep expressed the belief that the 10-point agreement signed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli during his recent official visit to China would bring about a significant change in Nepal’s development works.
Prakash Babu Poudel, secretary of the Centre for China Studies, said Nepal is a member country of the BRI and everyone should pay special attention as it is important how we can benefit from China’s development. Secretary Poudel expressed the belief that extending Chinese railways to India via Nepal would further benefit India.
Veteran journalist Yagya Prasad Sharma stressed on the need to put into practice the agreements reached between Nepal and China under the BRI. Sushil Raut, Chairman of Capital Media Group, said that development work is being carried out in China in a way that surprised the world.As a good neighbour, Nepal should also be able to bring development like China, he stressed. Raut also suggested that the exchange between media houses of China and Nepal should be made more effective.
Chief of China Global Television Network (CGTN) Nepali Department Sumegha said that people-to-people relations between Nepal and China are developing day by day. She shared that China has been continuously supporting Nepal’s physical infrastructure development. Stating that China and Nepal are partnering in the field of development and construction, she expressed the belief that Nepal could benefit more in the days to come through the BRI.
Chairman of Friendship Forum For Nepalese Journalist (FFNJ) Ramesh Hatuwali said that the interaction was organized with the objective of understanding Nepal’s views on what practices need to be continued to benefit from China’s BRI mega project.
Lokendra Kafle, former president of Nepal-China Friendship Forum and former vice-president of National Council of CRI Resource Clubs, said that great human beings like Bhrikuti, Araniko, Fa Xian, Buddhabhadra and others have played an important role in taking Nepal-China relations to the people’s level.Former central member of the National Council of CRI Source Clubs Nepal, Dr Navin Chapagain said that Nepal-China relations are very old, it is based on equality and respect.
Representatives of various organizations, office-bearers and members of the National Council of CRI Audience Clubs Nepal, teachers, law practitioners, students, social workers, media persons and around 150 people participated in the program.
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