New Delhi: In a bid to restore trade ties with Kathmandu, China has agreed to sign a Government to Government (G2G) partnership with Nepal. The deal would see Kathmandu buying essential medicines, medical goods and equipment from Beijing amid the widening spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Himalayan nation.
The announcement of the G2G deal comes almost a week after Nepal canceled a business contract with a private Chinese firm. The Beijing-based firm – manufacturing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), medical goods not only failed to deliver the consignment in the stipulated time, but also attempted to charge 20 to 40 percent higher rates than normal market valuation.
With the number of COVID-19 cases on a constant rise in Nepal, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led government approached five nations – India, China, South Korea, Israel, and Singapore – through diplomatic channels for purchase of essential medicines and medical equipment on a G2G basis.
“It was China who was the first of the five to respond to communication. The Chinese government cited no issues in signing the G2G deal with us,” a senior Nepalese government official said.
In a follow-up to the diplomatic communication, Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali had a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Sources claimed that Gyawali in accordance with the deal requested China to primarily supply Rapid Test Kits and essential medicines, PPEs, and other medical supplies required across all major hospitals, and testing facilities in Nepal.
On 15 April – officials from the two nations held a video-conference on the required medical equipment and medicines and their price.
Authorities in Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) claimed that Chinese Minister Yi has reportedly assured Beijing’s complete cooperation with Nepal.
‘China has also assured facilitation for the purchase of essential medicines and medical equipment as per the G2G deal. The two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction on the excellent state of bilateral relations and agreed to work together to further, strengthen these relations in the days to come,’ a press release issued by the MoFA read.
Beijing’s attempts to rekindle trade exchange with Kathmandu also comes a week after it agreed to reopen Nepal-China border and custom points at Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi— to facilitate the one-way supply of medical logistics and essential items of daily necessities.
Nepal’s COVID-19 count increase to 16
The number of the novel coronavirus infected in Nepal continues to grow as the coverage of rapid diagnostic and polymerase chain reaction tests are expanded. According to the latest figures released by the Nepalese Ministry of Health and Population, tests of 12,906 samples so far have found 16 people infected with the virus. One person has already recovered while 15 persons, aged between 19 and 81 years are undergoing treatment. There are 5,771 people in quarantine and 99 others in isolation wards.
Lockdown extended till 27 April
The Council of Ministers has decided to extend the lockdown until 27 April for the prevention and control of coronavirus. The decision follows the growing number of infected cases in the country while the pandemic situation was getting complicated in the border nation of India. Apart from extending the lockdown, the council also decided to tighten security along the Indian border and take action against those violating the closure of the Nepal-India border.
Local people protest opening of Tatopani border with China
Meanwhile, Nepalese citizens are protesting against the opening of the border port with China in Tatopani. Protests and agitations were held on 15 April claiming that the border was being opened for importing goods other than essential items.
According to MoFA officials, on 14 April Beijing and Kathmandu had agreed to provide vehicle passes to only 20 people for the import of food and medical supplies from China without the participation of local representatives.
