Organized by
18-19 November, 2018

Organized by

Nepal China Friendship Forum
Embassy of Peoples Republic of China in Nepal

Introduction

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was announced in 2013 as a project to build trade routes linking China with multiple countries. It has ambitions to reshape the global economy by connecting more than 60 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa through trade and infrastructure projects. In this regard, the Embassy of People's Republic of China in coordination with Nepal China Friendship Forum (NCFF) organized a two day conference entitled ‘Third International Conference on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in South Asia and Nepal: Trade, Investment and Connectivity Dynamics’ in Kathmandu from 18 – 19 November, 2018.

Key Objectives

 To meet the mentioned objective Nepal China Friendship Forum organized a Half Day Seminar on The Belt and Road Initiative with the theme ” Contours of The Belt and Initiative For South Asia ” on 13 November 2017 and  brought together a cross-section of stakeholders from the government, diplomatic missions, academia, private sector, media and other related organizations and individuals. The Guest of Honor on the Interaction seminar was from South Asian region except Maldives, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan where the concern authorities from South Asian countries presented their papers and chair the program. Beside the program was organized on the august present of Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and CPN-UML leader, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, H.E. Ms. Yu Hong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nepal and Mr. Shankar Prasad Adhikari Secretary, Ministry of Finance.

Outcome

The conference was jointly inaugurated by Minister for Finance, Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada of the Government of Nepal and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nepal, Yu Hong. It was attended by various academicians, experts, government officials, media persons, civil society and representatives from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. BRI formed a platform where experts from various nations discussed issues of BRI related to trade and connectivity; people-to-people contact; special economic zones; agriculture; health and investment. Experts discussed and presented on the economic issues of BRI. Opportunities and benefits of BRI in South Asia as well as individual nations were highlighted. The discussions gave clarity to the roles of the countries in BRI as well as BRI’s place in the national and regional development plans. Experts also emphasized on the linkages of BRI with Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, common grounds for SAARC regional cooperation growth and connectivity and people to people relations were also highlighted. The discussions helped to better understand BRI in Nepal and build a network of professionals that are able to identify Nepal’s priorities within BRI. The conference was a platform to raise confusions regarding various issues related to BRI.