PM to visit China on Dec 26

KATHMANDU: Chinese investment in Nepal's infrastructure building along with hydropower and tourism promotion in the country will be the main priority areas during the upcoming China visit of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal due on December 26 to 31, Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel informed on Tuesday.

The PM today held discussions with the concerned ministers, government secretaries and businessmen on the agenda of his China visit. The government, however, is yet to complete the homework on the agenda, said Pokharel.

The PM will lead a 15-member government team including Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala and Finance Minister Surendra Pandey and a 14-member team of businessmen from the private sector.

"We are yet to complete the homework on how to deal with the issues of different projects of the main priority areas and other agenda. The concerned ministries will soon come up with the agenda in this regard," said Minister Pokharel.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Planning and Works Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar informed that today's meeting discussed the agenda of the China visit. "The visit will, particularly focus on the issues of bilateral interests such as Chinese investment in Nepal in the areas of international airport and road construction and hydropower and business promotion," the DPM said.

"The visit will also center on giving free access to the Chinese market for 279-item Nepali goods," informed the DPM.

Meanwhile the PM also discussed with a team of businessmen led by Kush Kumar Joshi, president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Surendra Bir Malakar, president of Nepal Chambers of Commerce.

"We have seen the potential for attracting Chinese investment in Nepal. The delegation of businessmen will interact with Chinese authorities and businessmen in this regard during the visit," said FNCCI president Joshi.

He informed that they would also interact with Chinese delegations about Chinese investment in hydropower, infrastructure development and banking sectors as there was possibility of inviting Chinese investment in those areas.