KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has stated that discussions on the operational and implementation modalities of the BRI project are ongoing, with no decisions taken yet.

Newly appointed Minister Rana clarified this while responding to queries posed by parliamentarians in the International Affairs and Tourism Committee of the Federal Parliament on Wednesday.

Parliamentarians questioned the Minister about the modality under which the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project would be operated, specifically whether it would be a grant or a loan.

Minister Rana said, "The Government of Nepal has already signed the 'framework document' of this project. No decisions have been made as to how it will be operated and implemented, whether under a grant or loan. We will hold extensive discussions with all stakeholders, similar to how the MCC project was endorsed by the parliament after broad discussions with everyone."

Minister Rana emphasized that Nepal's nationalism, national interest, and the interests of Nepali citizens will be central in framing foreign policy. This will also be a key consideration in implementing foreign-assisted projects in Nepal.

The Minister asserted that Nepal's foreign policy will be based on the principles of Panchasheel (five principles of co-existence) and non-alignment.

Regarding the EPG report, she said, "The report is to be received with the consent of both countries. It will be proceeded with after identifying where it got stuck."

On a different note, she reassured that all Nepali students are safe amid current developments in Bangladesh. She informed that her Ministry has set up a separate Help Desk at the Nepali Embassy in Dhaka to facilitate Nepalis willing to return home.

She shared that around 1,400 Nepali students returned home from Bangladesh as of Tuesday, and those still in Bangladesh are also reported to be safe.

The Foreign Affairs Minister proposed developing a dedicated website to secure integrated information about Nepali students studying in various countries. This would help determine the exact number of such students and facilitate rescue operations during emergencies.

She also underlined the need to increase Nepali students' access to embassy and consulate services by restructuring and expanding these structures as needed.

Furthermore, the Foreign Minister said high-level diplomatic efforts are underway to rescue and repatriate Nepali citizens recruited in the Russian army for the Russia-Ukraine war.

She stated that 34 Nepali citizens have been confirmed dead during the Russia-Ukraine war, with the results of DNA tests for 22 others still pending. Six Nepalis remain prisoners of war in Ukraine.

Minister Dr. Rana also informed that consistent diplomatic efforts at bilateral and multilateral levels are underway to rescue Bipin Joshi, who has been taken hostage by Hamas in the Israel-Palestine war.

Additionally, she briefed on the progress of recent agreements reached during the visits to India and China by former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. In response to lawmakers' requests to operate the Bhairahawa and Pokhara international airports at full capacity, she pledged to assess the situation and take necessary actions.

Lawmakers including Madhav Kumar Nepal, Mahantha Thakur, Sunita Baral, Sudan Kirati, Shishir Khanal, Eknath Dhakal, Uday Shumsher Rana, Bhim Prasad Acharya, Prem Suwal, Dr. Dhawal Shumsher Rana, and Damodar Poudel raised queries to the Foreign Minister.