August 11: Nepal’s northern neighbour China has announced to commission a feasibility study of Kerung-Kathmandu railway with grant-assistance.    
Minister for Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi made such announcement during a bilateral meeting with his Nepalese counterpart Dr Narayan Khadka, who is in a three-day state visit to China. The Nepal-China bilateral meeting was held in Qingdao of China on August 10 (Wednesday), according to the state-owned national news agency RSS.    
During the talks, the two sides made a comprehensive review of Nepal-China relations and bilateral cooperation and also agreed to further extend assistance in the areas of trade, connectivity, investment, health, tourism, poverty alleviation, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, education and culture, among others, reads a press statement issued by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing on Wednesday.    
According to the RSS, Foreign Minister Khadka is on a three-day official visit to China at the invitation of China's State Councilor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang.    
On the occasion, Minister Khadka reiterated Nepal's unswerving stance on one-China policy noting that Nepal would not allow the use of its territory for any activity against China, the embassy said.    
Likewise, Foreign Minister Wang also reiterated China's continued and unconditional support and solidarity for Nepal's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and assured to provide assistance in Nepal's development efforts as per the priorities of the Government of Nepal, RSS further reported.    
Expressing commitment to timely implementation of the deals signed during the high-level state visits in the past, both the two ministers agreed to expedite the implementation of the projects being operated with China's assistance to Nepal.    
On the same occasion, the Chinese side also assured the Nepali delegation of immediately starting the second round of construction of the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project.    
Foreign Minister Wang also assured Nepal to undertake pre-feasibility study of Nepal-China Cross-Border Transmission Line as per the MoU signed during his earlier visit to Nepal in March 2022.  Minister Wang had announced to provide Nepal with financial package of 800 million RMB in 2022.    
During Wednesday’s meeting, China also assured to provide Nepal with chemical fertilizers and was positive about commissioning a feasibility study on the establishment of chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal.    
Likewise, Foreign Minister Wang also pledged to boost China's assistance to further develop Nepal's agriculture sector, to encourage Chinese investment to increase Nepal's agro productivity and to enhance assistance in the export of Nepali tea and traditional herbal products.    
According to the Beijing-based Nepali Embassy, the two ministers also agreed to set up a joint mechanism for the prevention and control of pandemic along the border ports.    
Also included in the agreement was to open the Rasuwa-Kerung and Tatopani-Jangmu ports for two-way trade and Hilsa-Pulang port for one way trade. The trans-border trade between Nepal and China has been affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic amid China’s attempt to control the virus in its autonomous region, Tibet.    
On the occasion, China has announced to hand over materials used for managing disaster risks.    
Minister Wang also pledged to provide additional vaccines against COVID-19 to fulfill Nepal's requirement and medical assistance as well.    
Also on the occasion, the two sides agreed to form a bilateral technical team to carry out the works of existing mechanism of the Nepal-China Joint Border Inspection Committee.    
Minister Khadka had set out to China on August 9 leading an 11-member Nepali delegation. The delegation is scheduled to return Kathmandu today.  (Based on report published by RSS)