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Gist Of 14-Point Nepal-China Joint Statement
Gist Of 14-Point Nepal-China Joint Statement
The RSS news posted on http://setopati.net/political/124537 on June 22, 2018 has the following gist of the 14-point Nepal-China joint statement.
Both Nepal and China have agreed to effectively enforce the Memorandum of Understanding reached on the cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance connectivity. The BRI agreement includes the construction of vital infrastructure components such as ports, roads, railways, aviation and communications to build the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network. Nepal offered to build an environment conducive to the Chinese investment in the infrastructure and other productive sectors.
“Both Nepal and China expressed satisfaction over remarkable achievements made in various areas of cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1955, and believed that the bilateral relationship maintained the momentum of healthy development on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which sets a model of harmonious coexistence between countries of different size and social system”.
Prime Minister Oli called on President of People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, and held official talks with Premier Li Keqiang, and met with Chairman of Standing Committee of National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu.
Leaders of the two countries reached broad understanding on various subject matters through the in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening the traditional friendship and deepening cooperation in all fields for mutual benefit, the joint statement stated.
China congratulated Nepal and her people on holding elections to three-tiers of the federal system and the formation of governments at all three levels successfully for the historic and epoch-making political transformation and beginning of a new era of political stability and economic development.
China has stated that it has every confidence in the government Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has presided over, would achieve the goal of “Samriddha Nepal, Sukhi Nepali” (‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’) and attain political stability, social harmony and economic prosperity for the people of Nepal. China has committed to assist Nepal in reaching its development goals as much as possible.
Both China and Nepal restated their firm commitment to respect each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and honor and accommodate each other’s concerns and interests.
Nepal reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China policy, which means Tibet and Taiwan are the integral part of China, and not allowing any anti-China activities on its soil. China also reiterated its firm support for the Nepal’s independent choice of its social system and development path, and the efforts Nepal made in upholding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, national unity and stability.
“The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level mutual visits, and to have meetings between the leaders on bilateral and multilateral occasions to share views on issues of common interest”, the joint statement stated.
Both China and Nepal agreed to make the full use of existing mechanisms including the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism and the Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting to expand exchanges and cooperation between government ministries, departments, legislatures and political parties at all levels.
The two sides agreed to reopen the Zhangmu/Khasa port at an early date; improve the operation of the Jilong/Kerung port; ensure the sound operation of Araniko Highway; and carry out the repair, maintenance and improvement of Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Highway and push forward the construction of a bridge over Karnali River at Hilsa of Pulan/Yari port at an early date.
To ensure the inter-connectivity and smooth running of the infrastructures, Nepal will complete the disaster treatment around the Tatopani Port and along the Arniko Highway, and keep the Kathmandu-Syaphrubesi Highway in an operational condition.
The two sides pleased to the signing of the MOU on Cooperation for Railway Connectivity. They underscored it as the most significant initiative in the history of bilateral cooperation and believed that it would herald a new era of cross-border connectivity between the two countries.
The two sides agreed to make good use of the long-term communication mechanism on railway cooperation between the government departments, and promote railway cooperation. China agreed to provide Nepal with such support for the technology and personnel training.
The two sides agreed to encourage both Chinese and Nepali airlines to launch/operate more direct flights between the two countries following the provisions made in the bilateral air service agreement reached between the two countries, and would closely coordinate the work on the construction of the Pokhara International Airport to speed it up so that it would start operation at an early date.
The two sides satisfied with the successful commercial operation of the China-Nepal cross-border optical fiber cable and agreed to further strengthen the cooperation in the information and communications for the mutual benefits.
The two sides are happy with the Agreements on the Reconstruction of Friendship Bridge and Resuo (Rasuwa) Bridge; Protocol on the Utilization of Highways in Tibet Autonomous Region of China by Nepal for Cargo Transport; Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Investment and Cooperation in Production Capacity; MOU reached between the two Foreign Ministries on Establishment of Mechanism for Facilitation on Implementation of China-Nepal Cooperation Programs and Projects in Nepal; MOU on Strengthening Cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries; MOU on Energy Cooperation; Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation; and MOU on Human Resource Development Cooperation. The two sides agreed to further deepen cooperation in economy, trade, investment, industrial capacity, post-disaster reconstruction and other mutually beneficial areas.
“Both sides agreed to study through different ways on the possibility of building oil storage facilities in the sites identified by Nepal,” the joint statement stated.
The two sides will continue cooperation in the reconstruction of heritages and schools and Nepal will positively study how to complete these projects with the localized management method.
The two sides agreed to further study the possibility of cooperation in speeding up the development of the three North-South Economic Corridors in Nepal, such as Koshi Economic Corridor, Gandaki Economic Corridor and Karnali Economic Corridor in order to create jobs and improve local livelihood, and stimulate economic growth and development in those areas.
China agreed to take positive measures to facilitate the Nepal’s export to China and consider providing Nepal with the technical and financial assistance for product development and post-harvest technology in agro-products.
China will consider providing Nepal with the necessary technical support for setting up laboratory and quarantine facilities in Nepal in order to ease the export of Nepali agricultural products to China.
The two sides agreed to open additional trade routes between the two countries through a mutual agreement and encourage financial transactions through banking channels.
Underlying the importance of generating a win-win situation for both countries, the two sides will constructively engage in finalizing the joint feasibility study on China-Nepal Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two sides will strengthen cooperation both at central and local levels in promoting establishing cross-border economic cooperation zones following the MOU signed between the two countries.
China agreed to complete the Post Disaster Recovery for Tatopani Frontier Inspection Station Project at Larcha and Frontier Inspection Station at Timure, Rasuwagadhi at an early date. Nepal will provide its full support for and comprehensive cooperation in the construction of the two frontier inspection station projects. The two sides agreed to develop other dry ports at the mutually agreed-Nepal-China border points.
The two sides attached importance to the cooperation in the transit transport in line with the Agreement on Transit Transport reached between the two countries in 2016. The competent authorities of the two sides will expedite the negotiations on the Protocol for an early implementation of the Agreement.
China would encourage local governments, Chinese enterprises and social groups to tap the potentials of Nepal on production capacity cooperation, building economic and trade cooperation zones and strengthening cooperation in areas that Nepal has resources and advantages such as construction materials, water conservation and hydropower and organic agriculture and herbs.
In order to facilitate and promote trade, tourism and investment between the two countries, China agreed to support the Chinese banks to open up their branches in Nepal following the relevant policies and regulations. Nepal agreed to provide such banks with the necessary policy and regulatory support for entering into the Nepali markets.
The Chinese government will continue to provide Nepal with the assistance for the Nepal’s economic and social development within its capacity and wishes to see that the grant assistance to Nepal will be delivered on time for the mutually agreed projects of the post-disaster reconstruction.
Nepal will provide full support and cooperation in the implementation of all China Aid projects as specified in the Exchange Letters.
The two sides agreed to study the possibility of setting up the Madan Bhandari Institute of Science and Technology. The two sides agreed to negotiate the financing modalities of the projects of road connectivity, railway connectivity, and hydropower and transmission lines among others, Nepal proposed.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between the law enforcement agencies in the information exchanges, capacity building and training. The two sides agreed to negotiate the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and Treaty on Extradition, in order to strengthen cooperation in the administration of border areas and fight against illegal border crossing and transnational crimes. The two sides will increase the exchange of visits of civilian and security personnel for training, disaster relief and mitigation as well as their capacity building.
The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in the border security and management, and negotiate the Agreement on Boundary Management System.
China agreed to make a serious study on the proposal of the Government of Nepal for setting up a Consulate General in Chengdu. The two sides agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, media, think tanks, youth, and people-to-people relations. The two sides agreed to encourage the establishment of sister city relationship between different cities of the two countries.
China agreed to encourage the Tibet Autonomous Region as well as Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai and other provinces to work in cooperation with Nepal in the areas of trade, tourism and investment among others.
China welcomed the Nepal’s participation in the China International Travel Mart (CITM) this year, and would continue to help arrange the Chinese media and travel agency delegations to visit Nepal and encourage the relevant Chinese agencies to further promote Nepal in China in view of upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2020.
China agreed to continue providing Nepali tourism professionals with the Chinese language training in Nepal to help promote the Nepal’s tourism industry. China also agreed to provide Nepal with around 400 training opportunities in human resources development and more government scholarships every year.
Nepal reaffirmed its full commitment to facilitating the teaching program of volunteer Chinese language teachers in Nepal as specified in the MOU of 2014 reached between the Ministry of Education of Nepal and the Chinese Embassy in Nepal.
China appreciated the gift of the two pairs of Ek Singhe Gaida (Unicorn Rhino) the Government and people of Nepal provided to the Government and people of China. That will symbolize a lasting and irreversible friendship.
“The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral forums and to safeguard common interests of developing, least developed and landlocked developing countries in particular”, the joint statement stated.
China attaches importance to the Nepal’s aspiration for obtaining the Observer Status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and will consider to make it a reality having a consensus on it with other Member States.
The two sides positively view and support each other’s participation in the regional cooperation process, and agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation within SCO, SAARC and other regional cooperation mechanisms within the agreed frameworks and guidelines.
The two sides committed to the rules-based multilateral trading regime under WTO and work for a more open, inclusive and balanced economic globalization with special preference to the LDCs and LLDCs so that all share its benefits.
The two sides satisfied with the outcomes of Prime Minister Oli’s visit, and agreed that the visit was the great importance of promoting the China-Nepal comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring the ever-lasting friendship.
Prime Minister Oli appreciated the warm hospitality accorded by the Chinese government and people, and extended the invitations to the Chinese leaders to visit Nepal within this year. The Chinese leaders thanked for the invitations and agreed to visit Nepal at mutually convenient date, which would be communicated through the diplomatic channels.
At the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal is on an official visit to China from June 19 to 24, 2018. Besides Beijing, Prime Minister Oli is set to visit Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
http://setopati.net/political/124537
