Day: September 24, 2023

Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prasad Saud has said that Nepal should benefit from China's unbeatable development and prosperity.

Addressing the Nepali diaspora in Beijing at a programme organized by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing on Sunday, Minister Saud praised China for its miraculous economic progress achieved in a short span of time.

Minister Saud also expressed his pleasure to the continuous support received from China for Nepal's economic development. "You have been continuously working to further deepen Nepal-China relations. We both sides have taken this formal visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to China as a very important milestone to promote cooperation in the areas of mutual interest by further deepening our friendly and close ties existing between the countries for centuries," according to the Foreign Minister.

He also stated that Prime Minister Prachanda and Chinese President Xi Jinping held serious discussions on diverse issues of Nepal-China relations on Saturday.

Minister Saud shared that the two countries have maintained their close ties on the basis of mutual respect, trust and understanding and recalled a long history of traditional and cultural friendship between Nepal and China.

He reiterated Nepal's commitment to the one-China policy and also praised China's continuous support and firm policy on Nepal's sovereignty, indivisibility and national independence.

On the occasion, he said that Nepal government was effortful to expedite the economic development issues to bring about prosperity in Nepali people's lives.

Likewise, he urged the Chinese side for cooperation on area of technology transfer to make Nepali goods more competitive in the Chinese market and enhance productivity.

Minister Saud said so while expecting China's goodwill and assistance for getting accessibility of Nepali goods in the Chinese market to reduce Nepal's trade deficit.

He said that trade, investment, technology transfer, hydropower, industrial production, infrastructure development, tourism, agriculture, mining, poverty alleviation, cultures, connectivity and other areas have immense potential for cooperation and support.

Source: National News Agency RSS

President Ramchandra Paudel has awarded senior critic Prof Dr Basudev Tripathi with the Rastrakabi Madhav Ghimire Award.

Amid a programme programme organized by Marsyangdi Bangmaya Pratisthan marking the 104th birthday of late Mahakabi Madhav Ghimire today, President Paudel presented a letter of honour and cash prize of Rs 100,000 to Tripathi.

The award was distributed for the first time coinciding with the birth anniversary of late Ghimire with the establishment of a revolving fund by his spouse-Mahakali Ghimire-and sons- Indrabar Ghimire and Rajiv Ghimire.

The revolving fund is managed by the Marsyangdi Bangmaya Pratisthan.

Awardee Tripathi expressed his happiness for getting the prestigious award instituted in the name of the national poet and said he felt 'fortunate' enough for this.

He commended late Ghimire's important role in promoting the Nepali literature.

Speaking at the award ceremony held at the programme organized at the Office of the President-Shital Niwas- Prof Dr Jayraj Acharya, former ambassador to the United Nations and member of the Award Selection Committee, shared that the Award was presented to Tripathi based on the criteria such as seniority and excellence.

Likewise, Rajiv Ghimire, son of late National Poet Ghimire, said that the award was instituted with the establishment of revolving fund worth Rs 1.6 million to commemorate the National Poet forever through literature.

On the occasion, a book on the biography of children's litterateur late Yekaram Singh penned by litterateur Bijayraj Neupane was handed over to President Paudel.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that he was excited from the meeting and discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping held on Saturday.

Prime Minister Dahal said so this evening while addressing a reception organized by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing.

The talks remained very fruitful and it would contribute to further deepening the bilateral relations, the PM expressed his confidence.

"The China visit this time has become unique and remarkable achievements have been made. I have realized that further environment of confidence has been created for the country from the talks," he added.

Likewise, the PM said that the visit has added new chapter in the centuries-old Nepal-China relations adding that the discussions were also held on the areas of investment in new sectors for the development assistance in Nepal.

During his speech at the reception, the PM said that his government has taken the policy to collaborate also with the private sector.

The PM further said that his visit was focused on making different dimensions of Nepal-China relations more robust and ensure cooperation and understanding in the areas of agriculture, tourism, health, education and others in future.

Earlier, the PM had addressed the Nepal-China Business Summit on the theme "Facilitating Investments in Nepal: An Interaction with Chinese Business Enterprises" in Beijing urging the investors from China to invest in Nepal and reap benefits.

Source: National News Agency RSS

President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward to support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal.

Furthermore, he said Nepal's hospitality industry is ready to welcome Chinese tourists, with numerous standard hotels catering to their needs and significant progress in tourist infrastructure, including the two airports.

Speaking at the Nepal China Business Summit, held during the official visit of

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to China in Beijing earlier today, he said facilitating cross-border trade and ensuring the smooth movement of goods and people is crucial for bilateral socio-economic integration. "The removal of trade barriers, including non-tariff measures, along with the full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, will lead to increased mutual benefits from bilateral trade," he added.

He also invited the Chinese business community to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector, both for domestic consumption and export to neighboring countries including China itself. Apart from hydropower, investment in tourism infrastructure, such as cable cars, theme parks, and resorts, holds great promise in Nepal.

Nepal has already proven to be a trusted destination for Chinese investment, with Chinese investment accounting for over 35 per cent of the total approved foreign direct investments. Furthermore, China is Nepal's second-largest trading partner. However, while we import 16 per cent of our total goods from China, our exports to China remain modest.

Nepal is committed to further opening up to foreign investment, technology transfer, public-private partnerships, and investment-related policies to attract both global and regional FDIs. We anticipate a boost in FDI inflows from China, maintaining China as the largest source of FDI for Nepal, he added.

Dhakal also said FNCCI, as the apex private sector representative body in Nepal, is always ready to cooperate on all fronts to further promote economic relations between Nepal and China.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Former King Gyanendra Shah has performed pooja at Taleju Bhawani and Aakash Bhairav Temple in Bhaktapur district on Sunday.

The former King reached Bhaktapur at the invitation of the local residents of Bhaktapur.

It is for the first time former King Gyanendra went to these temples to offer prayers and worship since the declaration of republican system in the country.

Locals assembled at the Durbar Square in droves to receive him. The locals fluttered the national flag of Nepal while a troupe of artistes played cultural traditional musical instruments.

A cultural procession was also organized in honour of the former Head of the State.

In presence at the welcome ceremony coordinated by Ananta Prasad Dhaubadel, a local resident of Bhaktapur, were parliamentarians of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, former high-ranking officials of Nepali Army and locals.

The former King, who arrived Bhaktapur's Durbar Square in a four-wheeler, walked up to the 15th century old-Taleju Bhawani Temple dedicated to Goddess Bhawani and walked up to the Aakash Bhairav Temple at Taumadhi to worship.

Thereafter, he held meetings with the locals at a hotel at Sallaghari. Responding to the queries of the journalists, the former King remarked that he was happy to meet the locals of Bhaktapur.

Furthermore, the septuagenarian former monarch said that he was elated to see immense love and affection of people of Bhaktapur coming out for him.

He further said that he felt love for the people who came to see him and demonstrated love towards him and was happy to see their confidence towards him.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who is on an official visit to China, attended a reception dinner hosted in his honour by the Nepali Embassy here this evening.

Prime Minister Dahal attended the ceremony organized by Nepali Ambassador to China Bishnupukar Shrestha to welcome the Prime Minister and his delegation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud, Minister for Water Supply Mahindra Yadav, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala, Secretaries, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, Nepalis nationals in China and members of the Chinese community also took part in the reception.

On the occasion, Ambassador Shrestha emphasized on the need to learn from China's unique development and progress model and work on how Nepal can benefit from its prosperity. The embassy is working to strengthen the historical relationship between Nepal and China, he added.

Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang on Sunday.

Source: National News Agency RSS