Amid the verbal dispute between the United States and China in relation to the US government funded Millennium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said Nepal’s sovereign parliament will decide what development assistance is in the best interest of the country and its people.

Issuing a press statement on Sunday the ministry’s spokesperson said the decision to accept development assistance is taken by Nepal based on our national interest and priorities. “Nepal has always been pursuing an independent, balanced and non-aligned foreign policy,” read the statement. “Pursuant to this policy, as a sovereign country, Nepal has accepted and utilized development assistance as per her national requirement and priority.”

Amid the delay in ratifying the MCC compact that carries a purse of $500 million grant, US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu said on February 10 that Washington will be forced to review its relations with Nepal if it is not ratified by the parliament by the end of this month. He also reportedly said the US will understand the role of external forces if it doesn’t get ratified.

A week later, commenting on the US deadline to Nepal to ratify the MCC compact, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday that China opposes "coercive diplomacy."

The foreign ministry has said that development assistance has played an important role in building infrastructures and development in Nepal. “The Government of Nepal remains grateful to our neighbours and those friends with whom Nepal has traditionally been enjoying strong partnership and cooperation as well as regional and multilateral development partners, including the United Nations for their continued support to the socio-economic development of Nepal,” read the statement. “We sincerely hope for continued goodwill of our friends.”