Amid criticism that Chinese-funded projects have not made desired progress in Nepal and Beijing has failed to adhere to past agreements and accords, China has recently communicated its intent to expedite at least half a dozen projects across multiple sectors.

“During a meeting this week with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song conveyed that at least six projects it previously committed to would be expedited, and groundwork will begin after the conclusion of the Chinese New Year holidays,” Rupak Sapkota, foreign relations adviser to Prime Minister Dahal, told the Post.

There are concerns over some projects undertaken by Chinese contractors under Chinese economic and technical assistance. Projects such as Narayanghat-Butwal road upgrade, Kathmandu Tarai fast track, Kanchanpur-Kamala road expansion, Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road building, second phase of widening of Kathmandu Ring Road, Tokha-Chhahare tunnel construction, widening of the Muglin-Kathmandu road section, and the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung cross-border transmission line have either shown dismal progress or are yet to take off.

Amid criticism from political and bureaucratic circles over delays in China-funded projects, Sun Haiyan, the vice minister of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, during her recent visit to Kathmandu, accused some nations of trying to sabotage China's relations with Nepal. She also expressed concerns over Nepal’s investment climate, saying it is not favourable for investors, and urged party leaders to work to diversify infrastructure and facilitate Chinese investment.

She made such remarks during an interaction with various party leaders of Nepal.

At the same function, Chinese Ambassador Chen defended the works of Chinese contractors and firms.

“Why are the same Chinese companies, which have successfully completed projects in other countries within set deadlines, facing delays in Nepal?” the Chinese ambassador had asked. “We have to find out why projects undertaken by the Chinese are getting delayed.”

“Is it only due to us? No. You have to assess it,” said the Chinese envoy. CPN-UML General Secretary Shanker Pokhrel had rebutted Chen, saying projects funded by other neighbours and donor agencies are also facing delays, and there is a ‘structural problem’ behind such delays.

“We will address the issue of delays in projects undertaken by various sides, but it’s also important for you to fulfil the commitments made in the past. Nepal expects commencement of committed projects, including the second Ring Road expansion [in Kathmandu], Outer Ring Road, hydropower projects, transmission lines, and the Tokha-Chhahare tunnel.”

Pokhrel also urged the government to execute projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

“We will tell our government to select projects under the BRI and ascertain the financial modalities,” Pokhrel said on the occasion.

CPC leader Sun said that there were other factors besides the Covid pandemic for the delay in the projects.

Soon after Sun’s return to Beijing, the Chinese ambassador met Prime Minister Dahal and conveyed that half a dozen projects that China had earlier committed to execute in Nepal would be expedited and some visible progress had already been made in widening the Muglin-Pokhara and Narayanghat-Butwal road sections. Delays in these projects have been drawing criticism from the general public, party leaders, lawmakers, and others.

“The State Council of China has approved the budget for the Kathmandu Ring Road expansion project,” said Sapkota, quoting the Chinese envoy. “With the approval of the budget, work will start very soon.”

The second phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road expansion spans from Kalanki to Maharajgunj and covers approximately 8.2 kilometres. The Nepali side has almost completed site clearance work.

But officials said the Chinese side has neither shared the project design nor approved the budget.

“We have not received the design of the project or any decision [from the finance ministry] regarding budget approval,” said Keshav Sharma, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The first phase of the 10.5km Koteshwar-Kalanki road section has been criticised for its ‘faulty design’ and lack of necessary infrastructure such as zebra crossings, traffic lights, street lamps, cycle and wheelchair lanes, and designated parking.

As a result, the accusation goes, the road section has become hazardous for drivers, cyclists, people with disabilities, and pedestrians. Now the Nepali side has requested the Chinese side to address these shortcomings in the second phase of expansion. A detailed report of the project has yet to be completed despite several deadline extensions.

Likewise, the Chinese ambassador also conveyed to Prime Minister Dahal that a Chinese technical team will arrive soon to conduct the feasibility study of Hilsa-Simikot road, whose passage-opening work is almost complete, and a new bridge will be built with Chinese assistance.

Once the Chinese festive season is over, a Chinese technical team will arrive to conduct a feasibility study of the 95-kilometre road that will connect Hilu on the Tibetan border with Simikot via Hilsa.

“Around 80-km track of the road has already been opened. To upgrade the Hilsa-Simikot road to a motorable one, a Chinese technical team will arrive following the Chinese spring festival,” said Sapkota, quoting the conversation between the prime minister and Chinese ambassador.

The passage-opening work was carried out solely with the resources of the government of Nepal.

During the China visit of Prime Minister Dahal in September last year, the two sides had agreed to the project’s feasibility study.

Another agreement signed during the Prime Minister Dahal’s China visit concerned construction of the two agro-industrial parks in Gorkha and Dhading districts. Recently, a Chinese team visited Nepal and discussed the issue with office bearers of the Agriculture University. “Another team is soon arriving to conduct field visits and expedite the projects,” said Sapkota.

Similarly, Dahal and Chen discussed preparing a detailed project report (DPR) of the Tokha-Chhahare tunnel project, which has been in talks since 2018. “Some correspondence has been made recently to carry out the project’s feasibility study. There is expectation both sides will soon reach an agreement for the feasibility study of the tunnel project,” he said.

“The Chinese side is ready to come here to prepare the DPR as soon as we give our consent,” the prime minister’s foreign relations advisor added.

The agreement to conduct the feasibility study and carry out the construction work was made during Dahal’s China visit.

As per an initial estimate, the tunnel would be 11 kilometres long, but a latest study has shown that the length can be brought down to just four km.

We are waiting for eight years to complete the feasibility study of the four kilometres long tunnel, said a joint joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure.

“Many people have the impression that the tunnel needs to be 80 or 90 kilometres long. But it cannot go beyond a maximum of seven kilometres while at a minimum, it will span four kilometres,” the joint secretary added.

Another project Dahal and Chen discussed was completing paperwork for the construction of the cross-border Nepal-China transmission line. “As soon as the two sides exchange papers, we can expedite the project,” said Sapkota.

The planned 220 kV cross-border transmission line, which will connect Kerung of China with Nepal’s Rasuwagadhi, has been in talks since 2016. But not even paperwork has been initiated for the construction of the 11-km transmission line.

“During the meetings with the prime minister, ambassador Chen conveyed that China is now serious about expediting the projects that it has committed to. Status of other ongoing projects like construction of a dry port in Kerung were also discussed,” said Sapkota.

Dahal and Chen also discussed studying two highly disaster-prone areas of northern Nepal under Chinese grants. During the State visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in 2019, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal and the Ministry of Emergency Management of the People’s Republic of China on ‘Cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Response’. In this connection, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has decided to measure disaster risk in Bhotekoshi and Kimathanka areas.

“There are three glacial lakes in headwaters of the Bhotekoshi River and these can burst anytime. This poses high risk to settlements in the lower riparian region. The authority will request China to undertake a study on how to mitigate the threat and what kind of preparedness we need,” said Sapkota.

Similar study will be carried out in the Kimathanka region of Sankhuwasabha district where there is also a risk to human settlements on the Nepali side of the border. “Both Nepali and Chinese sides will jointly carry out the study. The authority will soon write to the Chinese side as it has already identified the areas where different kinds of studies and investigations need to be carried out,” Sapkota said.

During the meeting, Dahal had expressed concerns over the expansion and widening of Narayanghat-Butwal and Muglin-Kathmandu road sections, both of which are being undertaken by Chinese contractors. Ambassador Chen on the other hand claimed notable recent progress in both projects.