By Muna Chand
On the active initiative of the President of the Nepal-China Mutual Cooperation Society, a nine-member delegation including the Mayor of Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, Prashant Bista, returned to Nepal today after successfully completing a two-week visit to China.
During this visit, a five-year cooperation agreement was signed between Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City and Suining City in the fields of tourism, culture, education, and health. Earlier, an agreement was reached through a Zoom meeting on December 13 to maintain smooth relations between the two cities.
After the agreement, both cities exchanged copies of the agreement. Based the statement that diplomatic relations between China and Nepal have been established during this visit by approving the agreement reached earlier at the level of Deputy Mayor, to increase the acquaintance and friendship between the people of China and Nepal and to strengthen and develop the friendly cooperation between the two sides, Suining City of Sichuan Province of the People’s Republic of China and Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City of Lumbini Province of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal have signed an agreement to establish sister city relations through friendly discussions between the two sides.
The four-point agreement between the mayor of Suining City and Nepalgunj sub-metropolitan city says:
The two sides will establish economic and trade cooperation relations and continuously deepen cooperation in this area.
The two sides will further expand the possibilities of cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, education, and health.
It has been agreed to appoint special employees to maintain daily communication and contact with the two parties’ respective departments to facilitate discussion and consultation on cooperation and common concerns between them.
This agreement paper was signed on March 29, 2023, in Suining City. This letter of agreement is written in both Chinese and Nepali languages. Two/two copies are kept for each side. Paper written in Chinese and Nepali languages are equally authentic.
This time, it has been agreed to implement the government-government, government-people, and people-to-people relations between the two countries practically, to establish mutual-cooperation relations, to make plans based on mutual interests in the fields of traditional culture, tourism, education, and health, and to move forward together by hand in hand. The issue of Chinese investment and business expansion in the Nepalgunj area was also discussed. According to the agreement, representatives of the two cities will operate offices in each other’s cities and send representatives in the near future.
In addition, the delegation led by President Poudel has also visited Shanghai, Wenzhou, Shijiazhuang, and Beijing. The delegation met with President Mr. Tang of the Wenzhou Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Tang extended a grand welcome and hospitality to the Nepalese delegation. During that time, mutual interest and cooperation were discussed. Similarly, at the invitation of the Chinese Buddhist master Mr. Zhu Qingyu of Wenzhou, a tour of his 1600-year-old monastery was conducted.
Master of Buddhism Mr. Zhu informed us about the program to help and support the destiny and future of Nepal and Nepalese people through Buddhism, to bring Chinese Buddhist tourists to Nepal, and to expand mutual cooperation.
It has been agreed to expand the mutual cooperation between the two sides. Meanwhile, the delegation visited Shijiazhuang. In addition to getting information about the manufacturing process of the Chinese army’s arrangement in Shijiazhuang, there was also a discussion about the expansion of mutual cooperation. By meeting with Mr. Zhang, the vice president of Silkroad City Alliance in the capital of China, Beijing, it was discussed the relationship and cooperation between the cities of Nepal and the cities of Asia and Europe connected with Silkroad.
In the delegation led by Prem Sagar Poudel, President of Nepal-China Mutual Cooperation Society, Prashant Bista, Mayor of Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, Ghanshyam Verma of IT Department of Sub-Metropolitan City, Dr. Prakash Thapa of Bheri Hospital Banke, Treasurer of the society, hotel and tourism businessman Top Bahadur Thapa, secretary of the society and board member of Nepalgunj Industry and Business Association Shyam Sundar Adhikari, central member of the society Ishwar Shrestha, manager of Saino Bahu Udshya Sahakari Sanstha Limited Dipak Poudel, Gravity Investment, and Trade Pvt. Ltd. Chairman Shivraj Karki were present.
