The Nepal government has permitted the China International Development Cooperation Agency to provide development assistance and create capitals in 15 northern districts of Nepal to meet their developmental needs. The 15 districts share a common border with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

The agency was established only in August last year with an objective to strengthen the strategic planning and overall coordination of the Chinese aid to Nepal.  

A team from CIDCA had recently visited Kathmandu and held talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and other senior government officials where it made a proposal to support the northern districts of Nepal.

Earlier, the Tibetan autonomous government used to supply food and other essential goods to Darchula, Bajhang, Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Mustang, Manang, Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Solukhumbu, Sankhwasabha and Taplejung.

In the deal signed between two countries in Kathmandu in 2014, China has agreed provide 10 million Yuan ($1.63 million) annually from 2014 to 2018 to help Nepal develop its northern districts bordering with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. The Chinese aid was spent in health, education and road sectors to improve the livelihood of the residents in those districts.

China has since reviewed the strategy and is planning to provide direct developmental support to the local bodies in the 15 districts, Dinesh Thapaliya, secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, told the Post.

During Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visit to Beijing in 2016, the Chinese side had committed to help in the infrastructural as well as social and economic development of the northern districts of Nepal.

The Tibetan government has extended support in the forms of food supplies and other essentials worth over 200 million Yuan to the 15 districts in the past five years.

The Chinese proposal was recently approved by the Nepal government.

The Chinese side has also agreed to provide material support like dozers, solar lights, blasting equipment, construction materials for schools and libraries, among others.

Under the agreement, CIDCA will provide developmental and logistic support to the northern districts for another five years.

“It is a demand-based support. First, our local bodies will collect their developmental requirements and we will forward them to Nepal’s consular general office in Lhasa. Then the consular office will make a request to CIDCA and distribute them to the concerned local bodies,” said Thapaliya.