Nepal and China review bilateral economic and trade ties

Kathmandu:  Nepal and China on Tuesday reviewed their bilateral economic cooperation, investment, trade and connectivity, a month after the landlocked nation signed Beijing’s ambitious ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative.

The one-day meeting also reviewed bilateral relations, political issues and the latest political developments in Nepal. They also discussed bilateral economic cooperation, investment, trade and connectivity along with land and air route connectivity.

The 11th Meeting of Nepal–China Consultation Mechanism consist of a 11–member Chinese delegation and 20–member Nepali delegation. The Nepali delegation was led by Foreign Ministry’s Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Chinese delegation was headed by Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Kong Xuan You.

The meeting comes shortly after Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding on China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. The OBOR aims to enhance connectivity and cooperation among countries, primarily between China and the rest of Asia and Europe through land as well as maritime routes.

While the implementation of OBOR is one of the agendas, the meeting will also dwell upon a host of other issues, including those related to security, trade and transit, according to foreign ministry officials. The 10th Meeting of Nepal – China Consultation Mechanism was held in Beijing in 2013. (PTI)