April 21: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, has assured of helping Nepal to export its products to China.    
Addressing a press meet through virtual means on Thursday, the Chinese Ambassador shared that her country has given high importance to the Nepal's request to resume export to China from the dry port.    
She opined that the officials of the concerned bodies, neighbouring provinces and border dry ports of both sides have been communicating and coordinating to this end.   
Expressing her belief that collaboration between Nepal and China would gain momentum once Nepal's economy and society return to normalcy after COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Ambassador said that she was confident that Nepali side would help create free and transparent trade environment, to fully protect the legitimate rights and interest of Chinese enterprises and to resolve their practical problems.    
Responding to queries on resuming direct flights between Nepal and China and facilitating Nepali students to return back to China for higher studies, the ambassador said, “The return of students to schools after the pandemic has remained as a general issue internationally. And, the direct flight between Nepal and China was suspended following the announcement of the Government of Nepal to suspend its international flights as preventive measures against pandemic and the suspension continues till date.”    
Making it clear that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was never a geopolitical strategy, the Chinese ambassador said it is, instead, a project for taking Nepal-like developing countries towards the path of sustainable development and helping promote shared prosperity. -- RSS