PM to seek Chinese investment in hydropower

Kathmandu March 11- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is all set to embark on a week-long official visit to China on March 20 with a long wishlist of Chinese support for building mega hydro-electricity, road and gasoline exploration projects. He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and call on President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 21.

Officials said the Nepali side would seek Chinese investment in harnessing about 2,200 MW hydropower projects that include Budhigandaki (1,200 MW), Sunkoshi III (585 MW) and Kimathanka-Arun (400 MW). Nepal will also seek China’s help to upgrade Araniko Highway and remaining parts of the Ring Road in Kathmandu and speed up work to build Pokhara International Airport.

It is learnt that Chinese side has proposed to seal two agreements the extradition treaty and the mutual legal assistance treaty, which, according to sources, however, are unlikely to get inked in the course of this visit.The two sides are positive on inking at least seven bilateral agreements, including import of petroleum products from China, Free Trade Agreement and Transit Treaty.