KATHMANDU: Ahead of his official visit to China scheduled for December 2, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held discussions with former prime ministers and foreign ministers on Monday to gather input on the visit’s agenda.
Former Prime Ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” participated in the meeting, alongside other former foreign ministers and current Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana.
During the discussion, Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the CPN (Unified Socialist) argued that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aligns with Nepal’s interests and highlighted the potential benefits Nepal could reap from it.
Key suggestions to PM Oli
1. Leaders emphasized the need for PM Oli to genuinely incorporate suggestions instead of treating consultations as mere formality.
2. Participants stressed that Nepal must approach its powerful northern neighbor with a clear vision to maximize benefits.
3. Leaders urged Oli to address delays in implementing past agreements with China and work towards fulfilling them.
4. Concerns were raised about the lack of infrastructure to operationalize the Nepal-China transit agreement signed during Oli’s previous tenure as PM.
5. Leaders advised careful scrutiny of terms tied to Chinese projects and raised concerns about slow progress on existing ones.
6. The meeting revisited the failure of industries established with Chinese grants, like the Hetauda Textile Factory, urging thoughtful consideration of future aid.
7. Leaders discussed the absence of Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was engaged in another event, and emphasized the need for coalition parties to avoid actions against national interests.
8. The importance of deliberating loan or grant terms with China and seeking national consensus on such matters was underlined.
9. Leaders noted the success of BRI projects in other countries and urged a balanced view on its financial implications, countering fears of a ‘debt trap.’
10. Concerns about internal divisions between the Congress and UML regarding loans under the BRI framework were raised.
PM Oli assured the participants that his visit would not include any agreements on Chinese loans and emphasized the non-debt nature of BRI projects. He reiterated his commitment to working in Nepal’s best interests and downplayed expectations for significant breakthroughs during the short visit.
While some leaders doubted the visit’s potential for substantial achievements, Oli maintained optimism, calling it a step forward in strengthening Nepal-China relations.
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