Kathmandu, November 26: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun has said that assistance from the government of China plays an important role in the development of the energy sector of Nepal. Minister Pun said so during a meeting with visiting Governor of Yunnan province of China, Ruan Chengfa in Kathmandu yesterday. An eight-member delegation led by Governor Ruan, who arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday (Nov 25 ) on their visit to Nepal, called on the minister at his office in Singha Durbar.
The meeting was focused on the bilateral welfare and cooperation between the two countries in investment in energy, tourism, and agriculture, said Minister Pun’s Secretariat. Saying the official visit of President of China Xi Jinping to Nepal last month has helped increase relations between the two countries, the minister said such high-level visit from China would also help establish cordial people-to-people relations. “Nepal and China share long political, administrative and people-to-people relations. Such high-level visit from China will encourage Chinese citizens to visit Nepal,” he said.
Saying that he has received the information that the Yunnan provincial government had invested in the Tamakoshi III Hydropower Project, he urged China to invest in other hydropower projects as well. He also urged Chinese investors to additionally invest in the hydropower sector, stating that “we have adopted flexible policies in the hydropower sector so as to attract as many foreign investments. There is also a provision of waiving income tax in the first 10 years.”
“Investments from India, South Korea, and China are pouring in Nepal. We also expect Yunnan to invest here.” The door for the market of Nepal’s energy in Bangladesh and India had opened and Nepal would produce 5,000 megawatts in the next four years, he said. He also requested Governor Ruan to spread the message for Yunnan’s citizens to visit Nepal to celebrate ‘Visit Nepal Year, 2020’.
In response, Governor Ruan said the Government of Yunnan was interested in cooperating in the areas of agriculture, energy, technology, and tourism of Nepal. He also said the government would additionally invest in hydropower sector of Nepal in the days to come, referring to the Yunnan government’s investment in the Tamakoshi III Hydropower Project. He also invited Minister Pun visit and take part in the upcoming Kunming South Asia Expo in Kunming, said Minister Pun’s chief personal secretary Durga Prasad Chapagain. RSS
