Kathmandu, January 3
Chines ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi says that China welcomes any economic assistance to Nepal from the international community as long as the Nepalese government can take decisions about it ‘on its own feet.’
Ambassador Hou, who was addressing a New Year press conference at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, said that as Nepal is one of the least developed countries, it needs international support not only from China, but from other countries as well. “Nepal is an LDC. Nepal needs assistance and support not only from China, but from the international community. We welcome any kind of assistance to Nepal if it’s in the sense of economic cooperation,” she added in response to a query from the media.
China, however, wants that under any terms of cooperation the Nepali side can decide independently and that it benefits the Nepali people and Nepal’s national interest, the ambassador said. “We would like to see that during the process of the MCC, the Nepali govt can decide on the issue in the interest of Nepal,” she added.
Hou’s comments come as the government prepares to table the Millenium Challenge Corporation compact with the United States in parliament. Various leaders of the ruling NCP have voiced their concerns over the $500 million grant deal with the US government saying that it is part of the Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative. While the government has already signed the MCC deal with the US, it is waiting for the agreement to be ratified by parliament. After the deal is ratified by parliament, the government has to chip in $130 million for the implementation of the Electricity Transmission Project (ETP) and Road Maintenance Project (RMP) under the MCC. The funds will also be used to develop the Hetauda-Damauli-Butwal 400kVA transmission line and rehabilitate 305km of highways from Itahari-Kakarvitta and Pokhara-Butwal.
Meanwhile, ambassador Hou held that in 2019, China-Nepal relations ‘blossomed in an all-round way’. She said that bilateral ties achieved rapid development in the fields of politics, economy, trade and people-to-people exchange. While Chinese companies have become a major force in the contracting and construction business, the exchange of visits at the highest level also facilitated the strengthening of ties, said the ambassador.
