Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the Protocol to Transit and Transport Agreement, which could not be signed during his recent visit to China, will materialise next month based on the historic agreement reached with Beijing in 2016.

PM Oli blamed the reluctance of the two governments before the present coalition in following through the trade and transit agreement he had reached in Beijing two years ago for the delay in signing the protocol.

Briefing the House of Representatives on his six-day official visit to the northern neighbour, Oli said that officials from both sides will sit together in July to finalise the protocol.

“The agreement I had singed had gathered dust as I became prime minister for the second time,” Oli told the House about the delays in signing the protocol.

Highlighting the achievements of the visit he wrapped up on Sunday, Oli said 22 deals—13 at the government level and nine with the private sector—were reached with China. He described the agreement on railway connectivity as historic, and most important in bringing prosperity to the county.

The two sides have agreed to carry out a feasibility study before preparing a detailed project report for the railway connecting Kathmandu with Kerung of China’s Tibet via Rasuwagadhi. The link would be extended to Pokhara and Lumbini later, the PM informed the House.

PM Oli claimed that the Chinese leadership was ready to assist in Nepal’s infrastructure and energy projects and communication development as part of the Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network Framework under its Belt and Road Initiative.

The prime minister informed the Lower House that the Tatopani border point, which has been shut since the devastating earthquake in 2015, will resume in May next year as the Chinese government had agreed to rebuild the Miteri bridge in less than a year from now.

Besides, he reiterated Chinese readiness for helping with oil and gas exploration, construction of petroleum storage facilities, support for Nepal’s export and construction of quarantine facilities. The PM listed support to tourism promotion in China in view of the Nepal Tourism Year 2020, providing training for 400 Nepalis and increasing scholarship quotas for Nepalis as the other commitments of the Chinese government.

“We want to engage our neighbours and other friendly nations in our development efforts. My recent visit to China and earlier to India have been very fruitful to this effort,” he told the House, adding that he was assured of a high-level visit from China “very soon”.