KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali today said that the government was confident that the ongoing session of the Federal Parliament would endorse the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) deal as it is an agreement related to the economic development of Nepal.
Minister Gyawali said that the agreement would then be taken forward once it is endorsed by the parliament.
Speaking at a meeting of the National Concerns and Coordination Committee in the National Assembly, he dismissed speculations that the MCC was a part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
His statement comes at a time when some of the ruling Nepal Communist Party leaders have been vehemently protesting the agreement.
The NCP Standing Committee has recently entrusted the party Secretariat to talk to the government and clarify the issue at the earliest.
He said that the then government led by the Nepali Congress (NC) had reached the agreement and as the government is an institution with unbroken inheritance rights there was no alternative to passing it even to enhance the credibility of the country’s image in the international sector.
A debate had started on the issue after questions were raised in the Standing Committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) that the MCC agreement should not be endorsed if it was linked to the Asia Pacific Strategy.
Minister Gyawali said that the incumbent government was serious regarding issues of national interest and concern.
This, he said, is an agreement related to assistance by the American government in projects for the infrastructure development.
Minister Gyawali also believed that the United States of America providing this assistance following the successful peace process and achievement of political stability in Nepal would give the country the benefit of a positive message worth billions of rupees.
According to him, an independent and professional body has been set up in Nepal for the implementation of the MCC assistance and Nepal’s authorized entity could audit its account.
A project worth 64 billion, including around 55 billion US assistance and remaining Nepal’s investment, has been pursued with the objective of developing the physical infrastructure and expanding connectivity for eliminating poverty and backwardness in the Asia Pacific Region.
Under this project, a 400 kV electricity transmission line would be constructed from Nanglebhare of Kathmandu to Butwal via Ratmate of Nuwakot and Tanahu. Some road networks of strategic importance would also be expanded and repaired as part of this project.
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