Nepal VP eyes cooperation for regional growth
- By Zhang Junmian
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 8, 2013
Nepal's Vice President Parmanand Jha said on Friday that cooperation among neighboring countries would not only benefit the countries themselves, but also help them promote regional development.
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Nepal's Vice President Parmanand Jha (2nd from left) and his spouse, Mrs. Nabina Jha (3rd from left), attended a reception held at the Embassy of Nepal in China on Friday. [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn] |
Cooperation between the neighboring and growing economies -- India and China, would benefit themselves, as well as Nepal, located between them, and other South Asian countries, said Jha during the reception.
"China and India have really helped Nepal a lot [in developing its economy]," Jha stressed. "We have a very good relationship with both China and India."
Nepal would never allow its territory to be used against China, added Jha.
Jha also expressed Nepal's willingness to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas such as hydroelectricity, trade and agriculture.
China has done a lot in helping Nepal develop its hydroelectric infrastructure over the past years. Jha called for more Chinese investments in this sector. Nepal's abundant water resources, which haven't been fully harnessed so far, make it the world's 2nd richest country in terms of hydroelectric resources.
The vice president, who is paying a five-day official visit to China, underlined that agriculture is also an important area for bilateral cooperation with China.
Jha was deeply impressed by the advanced agricultural technologies exhibited by China during the First China-South Asian Expo, which runs from June 6 to June 10 in Kunming, Yunnan Province.
The vice president said that Nepal, a country with limited arable lands, needs to apply new farming technologies to help increase its agricultural output.
While talking about trade deficit with China, Jha said China had rolled out a series of measures to help Nepali industries and businesses to export more products to China.
In 2012, about 7,787 Nepali products were duty-free in China, and the Chinese government has made concessions to help reduce trade deficit with China, Jha said.
Jha refuted the suspicions that China is investing more in Nepal because of strategic considerations. Chinese investments were welcomed.
"I have never heard from anybody who doesn't like to have investments from China," he said.
Jha was to meet Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao on Friday afternoon.
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