High level delegation to head to China for fuel import agreement

Kathmandu / December 17: A high-level government delegation is heading to China next week to hold agreement on fuel import and other trade deals.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa will lead the delegation on Dec 23 to give final shape to informal and formal discussions being held with China on importing fuel from the northern neighbour in the wake of Indian government’s undeclared blockade of essential supplies.

Minister Thapa, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, will return on 21 December. The high-level visit will come following the heels of the recent unofficial visit of Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganeshman Pun and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) officials.

Nepal has already reached preliminary agreement with China’s state-owned PetroChina for importing fuel but a trade agreement is yet to be struck. The NOC’s technical team has already held discussions with PetroChina officials while a delegation headed by Commerce Ministry’s Under Secretary Shiva Prasad Tripathi held bilateral talks on importing petroleum products.

The high level delegation will constitute of top officials from Commerce and Supplies Ministry, Finance Ministry and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal said preparations were taking place in accordance to which DPM Thapa will head to China immediately after returning from Britain. RSS