On the second day of Chinese Communist Party (CPC) central committee member Yuan Jiajun's visit to Nepal, there have been announcements ranging from cooperation to financial assistance in the construction of the Kerung -Rasuwa Gadhi railway and poverty alleviation.
Yuan, a confidant of Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the second day of the political meeting on Monday, discussed issues such as strengthening the friendship between the two countries, improving party relations and supporting infrastructure construction.
On Monday, he met Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Nepal Labor Farmers Party President Narayanman Bijukche. Chongqing City Committee Secretary Yuan not only held political meetings but also visited the LRI School in Kalanki and also visited the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Nayatapola Temple.
During the meeting with Speaker Ghimire, he announced 8 hundred thousands yuan (about 14 crore Nepalese rupees) of assistance from China to Nepal. In a courtesy meeting held in the Speaker's office at Singhdarbar, Speaker Ghimire mentioned that it would be good for the development and prosperity of Nepal if Kerung-Rasuwagadhi could be connected.
"When the Speaker raised the issue of railways, Chinese leader Yuan shook his head", said Shekhar Adhikari, press expert of the Speaker, who participated in the meeting. The Chinese government has already sent a team to Nepal to study the feasibility of building the railway with a grant. The team is in the study stage.
"After the visit of President Xi Jinping in 2019, high-level visits have been taking place," Speaker Ghimire said, "We believe that bilateral visits will help in the development and prosperity of Nepal." He also said that exchanges of visits between Nepal and China at the parliamentary level are expanding. Last year, Chinese National People's Congress President Lee Chansu visited Nepal. Just a month ago, the Speaker of Nepal's National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina visited China.
Chinese leader Yuan mentioned that he visited Nepal on the instructions of President Xi and promised that China would help Nepal to become self-dependent in food. Taking the opportunity of Yuan coming to Nepal, CPC leaders reached the area of Maoist Vice President Agni Prasad Sapkota in Sindhupalchowk. In that area, the "Vibrant Village" model project of the China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Development Cooperation Center has started on Monday.
The Chinese representatives launched the 'Vibrant Village' model project in Kubindey village of Sangagadhi Municipality of Sindhupalchok. An official present at the event informed that although China has started the project from that village, it will continue such programs in other areas of Nepal in the future.
Before meeting Speaker Ghimire, Chinese leader Yuan met Congress President Deuba at Marriott Hotel. Former Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka and Congress National Assembly MP Krishna Prasad Paudel also participated on the occasion.
"The chairman mentioned that Nepal and China have historical relations as well as deep friendship and said that it should be strengthened further," said Paudel, "The chairman thanked the Chinese leader for the support given by China during the Covid-19 and the infrastructure development of Nepal."
Deuba urged to help Nepal move forward in the same way as China which has developed rapidly. Deuba also mentioned that Nepal is committed to China policy. Chinese leader Yuan mentioned that the relationship between the two countries and the party should be strengthened and hence invited Deuba to visit China. He has also invited Speaker Ghimire to visit China.
Before attending a dinner at the Chinese Embassy on Monday evening, Yuan visited Bhaktapur's historic Durbar Square and five-storied temple. He was welcomed by the locals with the music of cultural instruments. A year ago, the head of the CPC Foreign Affairs Department, Liu Jianchao, also visited Bhaktapur the same way.
Yuan, who walked around the Durbar Square area for about an hour, then met with Narayanman Bijukche, president of NWPP. "On that occasion, they discussed the relationship between the two countries, relationship between the people of the two countries and the relationship between NWPP and CPC," said NWPP MP Prem Suwal, who participated in the meeting, said, "Our president spoke that if the relations between the two countries and the people are good, other relations will be smooth".
Chinese leader Yuan said that the two countries should move forward together. Bijukche handed over the 'Peacock Window' and Yuan gave 'Ceramic Plate' gift to each other. Yuan, who is on a three-day visit to Nepal, met with the Maoist team led by President Ram Chandra Paudel, Officiating Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is also the senior vice president of Maoist, on the first day on Sunday. Before returning home, Yuan is scheduled to meet UML President KP Sharma Oli and leaders of the United Socialist Party on Tuesday.
