The Chinese government has decided to provide 1.4 million litres of fuel worth 10 million RMB to Nepal government in grant to meet the emergency needs, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa.

DPM Thapa informed the media about the agreement to import fuel from China upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Tuesday. 

Earlier in October, the Chinese government had provided 1.3 million litres of petrol to Nepal to cope with the severe fuel crisis following the unofficial trade blockade on Nepal-India border.  Nepal Oil Corporation brought the grant fuel provided by China from Kerung of Tibet.

Saying that his China visit was successful, Foreign Minister Thapa said the programme schedule has been finalised for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China. “PM Oli will visit to China in the beginning of the New Year 2016 during which many other agreements will be signed,” said Oli. 

He said the formal agreement for the import of fuel from China will be signed during PM’s China visit. 

He added that the visit contributed to strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries. Moreover, he said, the visit helped prepare long-term framework for economic ties between the two countries, adding that he held discussions with Chinese sides as per the national policy of fuel trade diversification. 

DPM Thapa further informed that tax, transport and price for long term fuel trade would be decided after holding discussions by concerned bodies of both countries. 

He said that they forged consensus to go ahead after carrying out detailed study with Chinese sides to strengthen economic and trade relations, to promote open and free trade, to augment the transit treaty and increase investment. 

The Deputy Prime Minister added that they forged consensus on gradually resuming different nine border points with China and also discussed about the road and air connectivity and infrastructure development as well. 

Thapa said that discussions were held with Chinese officials to re-operate the Araniko Highway, prepare the baseline for Nepal-China friendship and operate the Rasuwagadhi-Syafrubesi road around the year. 

He said that during the discussion, Nepal also would initiate preliminary works of constructing railway in its territory in the context of China’s plan to expand its railway up to the Nepal-China border. 

Minister Thapa said that he also met with Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao and high-level officials of Sichuan province, adding that during the discussions, officials of the province expressed their wishes towards investing in hydropower in Nepal. 

A nine-member team including Minister Thapa had left for China on Wednesday at the invitation of Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi.