KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel met with a high-level delegation led by Chen Xiaodong, Chair of China’s International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), at the Ministry of Finance to discuss bilateral relations and China-assisted development initiatives in Nepal.
The two sides held extensive discussions on ongoing and upcoming projects under China’s development cooperation framework, following which four significant memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed.
Among the agreements was a project to establish a bone marrow transplant center at BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur, Chitwan. The facility will span an area of 1,834 square meters and include the installation of advanced medical machinery for cancer treatment.
Another agreement involves a feasibility study to explore the expansion of the Civil Servants Hospital in Kathmandu. These projects are expected to make substantial contributions to Nepal’s healthcare sector. Finance Secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyaya signed the MoUs on behalf of Nepal, while CIDCA Chair Chen represented the Chinese side.
In a parallel development, Nepal and China signed an MoU on human resource development, under which 1,270 Nepali civil servants will participate in bilateral and multilateral seminars organized by various Chinese institutions. The training is expected to significantly boost the professional capacity of Nepal’s bureaucracy.
Another key agreement signed during the meeting relates to the feasibility study for the construction of the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung cross-border transmission line. Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Hitendra Dev Shakya, and CIDCA Chair Chen signed the agreement. This marks a significant step toward enhancing cross-border electricity trade infrastructure between the two countries.
During the meeting, Minister Paudel expressed appreciation for the visit by the CIDCA delegation and highlighted the deepening multidimensional Nepal-China relationship. He said high-level engagements like this help elevate bilateral ties to greater heights.
Finance Secretary Upadhyaya echoed these sentiments and stated that the newly signed agreements will contribute significantly to Nepal’s health system, human resource development, and cross-border electricity trade. He expressed confidence in continued Chinese support for Nepal’s infrastructure development.
The Chinese delegation also committed to supporting the reconstruction of physical infrastructure damaged by recent floods in Rasuwa district.
Chairperson Chen acknowledged the Nepali government’s prompt and active response in the wake of the disaster and offered CIDCA’s support for post-flood recovery. Minister Paudel thanked the Chinese side for their commitment and emphasized that reconstruction is a top national priority in the wake of the disaster.
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