The Nepal Weekly 
November 26, 2024
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has made it clear that no agreement on loan will be reached during his upcoming official visit to China. The Prime Minister is embarking on an official visit to China on December 2, 2024 at the invitation of government of the Peoples Republic of China.
During a meeting with the former Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers at the Prime Minister’s Office at Singhdurbar to discuss bout his upcoming China visit, PM Oli claimed that the Belt and Road Initiative signed with China was not a loan-based agreement and there was no need to discuss now whether or not we seek loan from China under the agreement.
“We take loan or grant on the basis of our national interests as and when we need from any country or agency. We should not be swayed by the baseless rumour that loan is being taken to entrap the country,” Oli further clarified. “We have a long and friendly relation with China. I am visiting the northern neighbour to make the friendship further multi-dimensional”
“Irrespective of the country we chose for our first visit, we keep sovereignty, independence and freedom as well as national welfare along with global welfare in top priority,” pointed out the Prime Minister adding “That’s why this visit will be successful.”
Oli also dismissed the rumour that major ruling partners CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress have dispute over agenda of Oli’s China visit. Oli’s remarks came in the wake of speculations that Nepali Congress favours grants from China under BRI, where as UML’s priority was ready to seek loan from under the arrangements.
“I urge all of my friends to remain assured that we will work for Nepal’s interests and bebefut and world peace,” remarked PM Oli during the meeting, according to the PM’s secretariat.
PM Oli informed the participants in the meeting that effective implementation of the past agreements with China, expansion of the transmission line, export of Nepali products to China and other related issues of cooperation will mainly come up during his high level meeting in Beijing. PM Oli said that Nepal has the same friendly relations with another neighbour, India, and underlined the need for taking benefit of the cordial ties with both countries for Nepal’s economic development.
No one should take such matters as a ‘card’ against any country as the official visit of the head of the government will be based on the needs and decisions of the country,” PM Oli made it clear.
Sharing his views at the discussion, former Prime Minister and Chairperson of CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that though he had broken tradition by visiting China first in the past, he had no intention to play the ‘China card.’
Former Prime Minister Prachanda emphasized on the effective implementation of the agreements signed with China last year when he was the Prime Minister.
Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba said that preparations are underway on the issue of ‘agenda’ by the ruling two parties regarding the PM’s upcoming visit to China and all the agendas will be finalized soon from the level of the Prime Minister. She said that there is no dispute between the two parties regarding the visit as projected in the media.
However, Nepali Congress president and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba not present during the discussions as he was out of Kathmandu Valley while former Prime Ministers Jhal Nath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, former Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khilraj Regmi, former Foreign Ministers Ishwar Pokharel, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, NP Saud, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, Dr. Bimala Rai took part in the meeting.
Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba said that preparations are underway on the issue of ‘agenda’ by the ruling two parties regarding the PM’s upcoming visit to China and all the agendas will be finalized soon from the level of the Prime Minister. She said that there is no dispute between the two parties regarding the visit as projected in the media.
However, Nepali Congress president and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba not present during the discussions as he was out of Kathmandu Valley while former Prime Ministers Jhal Nath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, former Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khilraj Regmi, former Foreign Ministers Ishwar Pokharel, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, NP Saud, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, Dr. Bimala Rai took part in the meeting.
