Nepal Cabinet Approves to Construct Two 'Friendship Bridges' Linking with China

Kathmandu, June 11:  The Nepal Government on Monday agreed upon two proposals related to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's upcoming visit to China, to be held on June 19. According to The Kathmandu Post, the Nepal cabinet approved the Chinese government's proposal to repair two 'Friendship Bridges' that connect the two nations.

The bridges were damaged during the 2015 earthquakes. According to government spokesperson Gokul Baskota, the border bridges project will be funded by China. It will also provide technical support to the bridges in Tatopani and Rasuwa districts.

The cabinet had also given the green signal to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation to sign several projects that will be discussed upon during the Prime Minister Oli's visit to China.

During the visit, a 'Nepal-China Cooperation on Energy Sector' is slated to be signed, with hydroelectricity and cross-border transmission lines earmarked in the proposals.

The Finance and the Foreign ministries were also directed by the cabinet for negotiating projects with China, with establishing a bilateral mechanism on energy cooperation at the secretary and joint secretary levels being a part of the agenda.

Additionally, a dry port in Tatopani district, which has remained dysfunctional since the 2015 earthquakes, is being worked upon by a Chinese company, an agreement for which was signed back in the first week of May by the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board.

The construction will cost RMB 147 million and is scheduled to be completed by April 2019. The Kodari highway is also set to be upgraded by the Chinese.