SATV 10 June, Kathmandu: Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has stated that after Nepal has expressed its consent to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework, Nepal remains equally engaged in its impacts. Participating in an interactive program titled “Building a Community with a Shared Future,” organized by the Friends of Silk Road Club Nepal, Minister Bhandari informed that the Government of Nepal is continuing efforts to utilize the markets of its two neighboring countries. He added that the government is making every effort to transform Nepal's import-oriented trade into export-oriented trade, citing as an example the zero-tariff facility granted by China on Nepalese products.
Supporting China's global policy of building a shared future, the seminar served as a milestone for discussions and debates on how Nepal and Nepali can benefit from it and how peaceful coexistence and cooperation can be further advanced. The focus of the seminar was on how the proper and positive utilization of this policy adopted by China could help Nepal to benefit and embark on a path of development.
Welcoming intellectuals related to China-Nepal relations present at the event, the General Secretary of the Friends of Silk Road Club, Kalyan Raj Sharma, expressed confidence that the seminar would contribute to strengthening China-Nepal cooperation and provide opportunities to learn from China's progress. He emphasized that China has been striving to harmonize the Silk Road civilization not only with Nepal but with the civilizations of many other countries, and Nepal should align itself with China’s emerging economic image to reap its benefits.
Dr. Mahendra Bista, Executive Chairperson of the Public Service Broadcasting Agency, who recently visited China with a high-level delegation, recalled the visit and mentioned that there is much to learn from China. He stated that if Nepal could emulate how China preserves even its smallest cultural relics and derives tourism and other benefits from them, the path to progress would not take long. He also pointed out that China is not only ahead in technology and economic development but also rich in terms of nature and civilization compared to many other countries.
Experts on China-Nepal relations, such as Lila Nyaichyai, Dr. Uddav Pyakurel, and Dr. Bikram Timilsina, emphasized that China’s policy of turning the world into a developed global village is admirable and that Nepal must prepare its mindset accordingly to be a part of this initiative. They highlighted that while we talk about development, our preparations are often minimal, and therefore similar seminars are also needed in rural areas.
The program added a new dimension to Nepal-China relations and conducted deep discussions on the positive impact of China's growing influence on Nepal’s economic prosperity. Experts stressed that Nepal should remain more engaged and proactive in this regard.
