PM Dahal briefs parliament about his upcoming UNGA and China visit

KATHMANDU, Sep 15: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has expressed his confidence that the existing bilateral relations between Nepal and China would be further elevated and strengthened by his China visit.

Briefing the parliament about his upcoming official visits to the People's Republic of China and the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in the USA today, PM Dahal pledged to make efforts to make Nepal-China relations stronger. 

Stating that the upcoming visit to China would be his third visit as the Head of the Government, Dahal said that his first prime ministerial visit to China post-COVID-19 pandemic would further consolidate the bilateral ties between the two countries. 

During his visit to China, he shared that a discussion would be held on cooperation received from friendly neighbouring country China in Nepal's infrastructure, agriculture, energy, tourism, health and education and various other areas as well as areas of mutual cooperation would be further expanded. 

Talks would be held on opening the bilateral trade checkpoints and traditional border points between the two countries that were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the PM informed the parliament.

Similarly, he mentioned that he would address the UNGA and put forth the concerns and interests of Nepal before the international community as the Head of the Government. 

The Prime Minister believed that his visit would help garner international cooperation and goodwill for Nepal in the areas of peace, sustainable development and climate change. 

The PM is leaving for New York on coming Saturday leading the Nepali delegation to the USA. Nepal, Chairing the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries (LDC), would present the common concerns and agendas of 47 LDCs, the PM informed the parliament.

After addressing the high-level session of the 78th session of the UNGA, he would directly travel to Hangzhou in China on September 22, according to PM Dahal.

He explained, "I have to go directly to friendly neighbouring country of China directly from New York due to a very short period of time between the address at the United Nations and China."

PM Dahal is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hangzhou, he said. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and hold bilateral talks. He would also attend the inaugural event of the 19th Asian Games.