Parliamentary visit to China productive: NA Chairman Timilsina

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina has said the visit to China by a delegation of the Federal Parliament (of Nepal) was productive.

Talking to media upon his arrival at Pokhara International Airport from China today, the NA Chairman said this.

The parliamentarians' delegation led by the NA Chairman arrived in Pokhara on a direct chartered flight of the Sichuan Airlines from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, China at 9:06 am today, according to TIA information officer Bishnu Adhikari.

Stating that it was a matter of happiness and pride for the entire Pokhara folks and for Nepal that the regional international airport witnessed the operation of the first international flight today, the National Assembly Chairman insisted on the need of collective efforts to regularize international flights in Pokhara in the coming days.

He said the delegation went to China on May 28 in the course of attending the fifth China-Tibet Tourism and Cultural Expo held in Lhasa of Tibet on June 16-17. He attended the event as the chief guest and during the visit the delegation engaged in high level political visits in China. He met with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Zhao Leji on June 12 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The nine-member delegation reached Beijing via Guangzhou. The team visited Sanghai as well where the Chairperson of the Municipal Peoples’ Congress Standing Committee in Shanghai, Dong Yunhu paid a courtesy call on him.

As Chair Timilsina said, during the stay in China, the team held bilateral discussions which were significant in view of Nepal-China bilateral relations, trade, commerce and the economic ties.

The meetings focused on exchanges of views regarding good parliamentary practices in both countries and new technological advancements, stressing on resuming exchanges of parliamentary visits between the countries suspended with COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, there was an emphasis on the need to conducting orientations for capacity enhancement of parliamentary staff.

He said, "Nepal and China have age-old and historic trade relations, but again we experience a huge trade deficit with China."

During the meetings with the Chinese side, possible ways for promoting to exports of agricultural products and handicrafts from Nepal to China were discussed. Majorly, export of citrus fruits, and buff and pork from Nepal to China are possible.

The two sides also exchanged views about the potential of exporting grass for feeding cattle from Nepal to China in view of dry and arid lands in Tibet where the production of grass is not feasible.

According to him, he proposed China to operate Nepal-China flights via three international airports based in different locations in Nepal.

The landing of the chartered flight from China was itself a significant, he said.

Similarly, discussions were held to implement the Ratmate-Keyrung 400 KV transmission line and other projects of connectivity. At present, three Nepal-China transit points are operational and in this context, discussions here held on operating other bilateral transit points from east to west of Nepal and collaborating in the construction of infrastructures in Korola point, according to him.

The establishment of sisterly relations between Gandaki and Tibet, between the Pokhara metropolis and Shanghai Municipality in China was the agenda of discussions during the visits with a focus on implementation the agreements reached during the prime-ministerial and presidential-level visits held before this.

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