Government sending a high-level delegation to China to sign trade deal with PetroChina

Kathmandu / November 19: The government on Friday is sending a high-level delegation to China to sign a trade deal with the PetroChina. The seven-member delegation from the Ministry of Commerce and Supply is heading towards the northern neighbour to strike the deal.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supply Shambhu Ghimire is heading the delegation that will also comprise officials of the Nepal Oil Corporation and representatives of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Law, and Finance. The government is sending a high delegation to China in a bid to seeking an alternative to fuel supply that was hit by India’s unofficial blockade on the country.

China has already agreed to provide essential fuel to Nepal. Minister for Commerce and Supply Ganeshman Singh recently paid an unofficial visit to China to hold discussions with the Chinese officials about the possibility of fuel to Nepal from there.

At a press conference in the Ministry on Thursday, Minister Pun said the high level delegation was setting out for China Friday to sign a trade deal with the PetroChina.

China has already provided 1.3 million liters of petrol to Nepal in grant assistance. Nepal and PetroChina have signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) on fuel supply to Nepal and a new deal is going to be sealed on the same.

It may be noted that the Tatopani Custom Point linking Nepal with Tibet of China was affected by the April 25 earthquake and has been partially resumed. Government has already requested the Chinese side for help to open the point in full-fledge.

China has decided to supply fuel to Nepal at an existing price. There will be no difference in the prices of fuel to be imported from China and India, Minister Pun said on the occasion. RSS