No agreement on loan during China visit: PM Oli

Kathmandu / Nov. 25: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has made it clear that no agreement on loan will be made during his official visit to China starting from December 2 this time.

At a discussion with the former Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers with regard to his upcoming China visit, PM Oli mentioned that the BRI was not a loan-related project and that it was not an issue of dispute whether or not we take loan from China.

“We take loan or grant on the basis of our national interests as and when we need from any country or agency. We should not be swayed by the baseless rumour that loan is being taken to entrap the country. We have a long and friendly relation with China. I am visiting China to make the friendship further dynamic,” said PM Oli.

Irrespective of the country of our maiden foreign visit, we keep sovereignty, independence and freedom as well as national welfare along with global welfare in paramount priority. That’s why this visit will be successful. There is no point in circulating rumour that ruling CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress parties have dispute over agenda of the visit. I urge all of my friends to stay confident that we will work for Nepal’s interests and advantage and world peace, said PM Oli, according to the PM’s secretariat.

PM Oli informed the participants in the meeting that the preparations were made to emphasise effective implementation of the past agreements with China, expansion of the transmission line, export of Nepali products to China and other related issues of cooperation.The PM stated that Nepal has the same friendly relations with another neighbour, India, and stressed on taking benefit of the cordial ties with both countries for Nepal’s economic development.

Prime Minister Oli urged that no one should take such matters as a ‘card’ against any country as the official visit of the Chief Executive of Nepal will be based on the needs and decisions of the country.

Sharing his views at the discussion, former Prime Minister and Chairperson of CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ mentioned that he had broken tradition by visiting China first in the past and clarified that he did not intend to play the ‘China card’ but said that the PM should not play cards in the political ups and downs of the country.

Former Prime Minister Prachanda emphasized on the effective implementation of the agreements signed with China last year when he was the Prime Minister.

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba said that homework is being done on the matter of ‘agenda’ by the ruling two parties regarding the visit to China and all the agendas will be finalized soon by the Prime Minister. She said that there is no dispute between the two parties as projected in the media.

Nepali Congress president and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was absent in the discussions because he was out of Kathmandu Valley while former Prime Ministers Jhal Nath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, former Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khilraj Regmi, former Foreign Ministers Ishwar Pokharel, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Bhesh Bahadur Thapa, NP Saud, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, Dr. Bimala Rai were present in the meeting.