Nepal and China on Tuesday reviewed the China-funded projects in Nepal during the third meeting of the Mechanism for Facilitation on the Implementation of Nepal-China Cooperation Programmes and Projects. Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming co-chaired the meeting, leading their respective delegations.

The meeting comprehensively reviewed the status of ongoing Nepal-China economic and development cooperation programmes and projects, said the foreign ministry, while expressing satisfaction on the progress made so far.

An understanding was reached on taking specific measures to expedite timely and effective implementation of those programmes and projects that require immediate attention, the ministry said in a statement.

In the meeting, besides some new projects that China wants to push forward, the status of the ongoing projects was discussed, according to the officials.

These include reconstruction of a bridge in Rasuwa, bone marrow transplantation service center at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, export of thermally processed buffalo meat to China, Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadi Highway Repair and Improvement Project; Chilime-Rasuwagadhi-Kerung 220 KV transmission line project; Nepal-China Cross-border Railway (Jilong-Kathmandu) Project, and Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project (Phase II ).

On April 9, Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Transport and Urban Development Sunil Lamsal and Ambassador Zhang had already signed an agreement for widening the Ring Road’s 8.2-kilometre stretch from Kalanki to Basundhara, including construction of a concrete bridge at Dhungedhara and three disability-friendly pedestrian bridges at Sitapaila-Balaju, Balaju-Machhapokhari, and Samakhusi-Basundhara Police Post. Streetlights from Kalanki to Basundhara Chowk will also be installed. China will provide around Rs11 billion in grant support for the project.

Other projects discussed include Bir Hospital Extension Project in Duwakot, Tokha-Chhahare and Mailung-Syabrubesi tunnels; Hilsa Bridge over the Xiarwa River; Damak Industrial Park; and the Narayanghat-Butwal Road Improvement Project, according to the ministry. The construction of the bridge in Hilsa was completed and is in the process of being handed over by the Chinese side. Discussions also focussed on implementing the past agreements and accords and exploring new areas of cooperation.

On May 25, Nepal government sent its response to China on the implementation of the cross border transmission line between the two countries. The letter conveyed Nepal’s commitment to the transmission line (Chilime-Kerung) project.

In March 2024, officials from Nepal and China had agreed to construct the Jilong/Kerung-Rasuwagadhi-Chilime 220kV cross-border power transmission line at an early date. The decision was made during a meeting of the joint working group representatives of the Nepal Electricity Authority and the State Grid Corporation of China.

Likewise, the government on May 20 decided to accept a grant assistance of RMB 79.36 million from the Chinese government for the repair and maintenance of the Araniko Highway. The grant amount is equivalent to around Rs1.8 billion.

Besides these projects, as per Nepal’s proposal, 10 projects under the Belt and Road Initiative were agreed for execution in December 2024 during the official visit of then prime minister KP Oli to China. But even pre-feasibility studies for most of these projects have yet to begin and remain incomplete.

The 10 projects were the Tokha-Chhahare tunnel road; Hilsa-Simkot road project; Kimathanka-Khandbari road and bridge; Jilong-Kerung-Kathmandu cross-border railway; Amargadhi City Hall in Dadeldhura; Jilong-Kerung-Rasuwagadhi-Chilime 220KV transmission line; Madan Bhandari University; Kathmandu Scientific Centre and Science Museum; China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park in Damak; and the Jhapa Sports and Athletics Complex.

China has completed the feasibility study for the Jilong-Kerung-Kathmandu cross-border railway and is expected to hand over the report to the Nepali side by the end of June. The two sides have also exchanged letters to expedite the construction of the Tokha-Chhahare tunnel road and the Hilsa-Simkot road project. Nepal and China have also agreed to construct the 96-kilometre Hilsa-Simkot road as a part of the Karnali Corridor.

“We discussed important cooperation programmes and projects between our two countries, and agreed to implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders of our two countries, so as to push China-Nepal cooperation to new heights,” Chinese ambassador Zhang said in social media X after the meeting.

The Nepali delegation included senior officials from various ministries and agencies of the government of Nepal responsible for implementation of the Nepal-China programmes and projects, and the Chinese delegation consisted of senior officials of the Embassy of China in Kathmandu.

Formed under the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 21, 2018, the mechanism serves as a platform to regularly review ongoing Nepal-China programmes and projects, identify challenges, and take measures to address them with priority.