Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s economic and development advisor, Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, has made it clear that no agreement was made on issues regarding Nepal’s support to China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) during the bilateral meeting held between PM Oli and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Advisor Dr. Khatiwada informed that the Nepal government is committed to its Constitution and non-aligned foreign policy, hence Nepal cannot be a part of any country’s security strategy. PM Oli met with Chinese President Xi during his visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus Summit in Tianjin on August 30.
In response to questions concerning China’s statement, which suggested that Nepal supported China’s GSI, Dr. Khatiwada clarified, “PM Oli’s visit is chiefly for the participation in the SCO Summit. Generally, in the sidelines of such conference, no agreement and memorandum of understanding is made. It is not done either. Therefore, it is false to make publicity that Nepal supported GSI while no agreement was made on it.”
However, Dr. Khatiwada mentioned that discussions were held on how both sides could advance the effective implementation of the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) Framework Agreement. He expressed concern over baseless rumors spreading on social networks and urged everyone to spread the facts and understand the sensitivity and veracity of news.
Dr. Khatiwada further shared that other issues that featured during the bilateral discussion included strengthening connectivity between Nepal and China, industrial and infrastructural development, collaboration in the health sector, agriculture, investment, tourism, science and IT, sports, disaster management, people-to-people connections, and Nepal’s socioeconomic transformation.