'Nepal is an important partner for China to jointly build the BRI'

KATHMANDU, July 12: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi said that Nepal is an important partner for China to jointly build the BRI.

Addressing a virtual press conference by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal on Monday, Ambassador Yanqi said that China-Nepal bilateral cooperation in various fields have made positive progress.

On the occasion, she also shared that the China-aided Kathmandu Durbar High School Reconstruction Project was completed and handed over to the Nepali side.

"The pre-feasibility study of the Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel Project has been finished.

"The construction of Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport is underway.

"The construction of the third phase of China Aid Araniko Highway Long-term Opening Maintenance Project has started.

" Trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network is gradually taking shape."

On a different note, Ambassador Yanqi said that China has actively carried out international cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and is committed to ensuring accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

According to her, China has provided over 450 million doses of vaccines to nearly 100 countries including Nepal. "The first batch of the vaccines procured by Nepal from China has arrived. I hope those vaccines will play an important role in building an immune firewall for the Nepali people," she added.

On the occasion, she said that Nepal, like other developing countries, provides support to China within its capability, actively speaks for China on international and multilateral occasions, resolutely opposes some countries’ smear against China on issues such as human rights and origin-tracing of COVID-19 virus.

"Just as President Xi Jinping reiterated, China will always be a member of the developing world. No matter how the international situation changes, we will always be a reliable friend and sincere partner of developing countries."