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Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal, Sudarshana Pathirana, paid a courtesy call on Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Arzu Rana Deuba.

During the meeting held at the Office of the Foreign Minister in Singha Durbar today, they discussed matters of mutual welfare and interest of the two countries, and various dimensions of Nepal-Sri Lanka relations, according to the Ministry.

After receiving briefings from intra-party departments, newly elected Minister for Foreign Affairs, Arzu Rana Deuba, has begun her work. Her immediate task upon taking office was to facilitate the return of Nepali students from Bangladesh, where violence erupted following nationwide protests by students demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs.

On Wednesday, Minister Deuba appeared before the parliamentary committee on International Relations and Tourism, where she faced a broad range of questions on foreign policy, including China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI, China’s flagship program unveiled by Xi Jinping in 2018, has once again become a focal point in both domestic and foreign policy with the formation of the new government under Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Minister Deuba informed the parliamentary committee that although the broad agreement on the BRI was signed in 2017, discussions on its implementation plan have only just begun. She said key details such as the project modality, loans, and specific projects are still to be finalized. She emphasized that any agreement must undergo broader discussion before signing, citing the extensive debate on the US’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Parliament as a precedent.

Minister Deuba further stated that the debate should not be confined to a few ministries but should include input from a wider section of stakeholders. The first phase will involve discussions within the government, with the Parliamentary committee being informed subsequently. She reassured that the broad agreement poses no threat, as it is an overarching document, and emphasized the need for collective input on how to proceed with the BRI.

This is Minister Deuba’s first statement on the BRI. China has long pressed for the signing of the BRI implementation plan. The previous government, led by CPN (Maoist Center), was prepared to sign the document, but it was canceled at the last minute by then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sought permission to sign the document, Dahal did not grant consent.

It was widely reported that the document was not signed due to disagreements over loan terms. However, former Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha later clarified that the implementation plan does not mention the investment modality. He added that the issues of investment would be addressed in a separate project implementation plan to be signed after the implementation plan.

Political parties are divided over China’s BRI. The CPN-UML and other communist parties advocate for progress on the BRI and are open to taking soft loans if necessary. The Nepali Congress, a key coalition partner, has officially decided to accept only grants, not loans, under the BRI. However, the BRI’s investment modality involves joint investments in specific projects, with China potentially providing some concessions.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, in his congratulatory message to Prime Minister Oli, expressed his desire to implement the understandings reached between top leaders of the two countries and to promote collaboration under the China-Nepal Belt and Road Cooperation, as well as in other areas. While major parties have similar positions on the BRI, some adopt a softer stance for public posturing. 

In Nepal, the BRI is often perceived as a loan to finance development infrastructure. Recently, China has advised Nepali politicians to select smaller projects under this initiative instead of large, financially viable ones.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed sorrow over the Saurya Airlines plane crash that occurred this morning at the Tribhuvan International Airport, killing 18 people on board.

The Prime Minister took to social media and said he is deeply saddened by the death of 18 people in the plane crash.

He urged all for patience at this hour of grief. 

The plane with the call sign 9N- AME skidded off the runway and fell into a ditch on the eastern side of the runway while taking off for Pokhara.

The incident took place at 11:11 am. 

Ambassador of Egypt to Nepal, Noha Elgebaly said Egypt would extend all possible support to Nepal in attaining its goal of upgrading to a developing country in November 2026.

Addressing a reception hosted on Tuesday evening with Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav as the chief guest on the occasion of the National Day of Egypt, the Ambassador said that Egypt would help Nepal smoothly transition to the status of a developing country.

Saying that Egypt wants Nepal's socio-economic progress and political stability, she said Egypt and Nepal have been collaborating on the issues of shared concerns in multilateral forums, including the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), G-77 and the United Nations.

Noting Egypt and Nepal share partnership on issues of mutual interest, including climate change, Ambassador Elgebaly said NAM's founding member Nepal is a close friend of Egypt.

The bilateral relations have been further strengthened since the establishment of diplomatic relations with Nepal in 1957, she said, adding the Pyramids of Egypt and the Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) of Nepal have become the attractions for tourists from all over the world.

Egypt, the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Nepal, has offered opportunities to 300 Nepali students for higher studies, she said she was committed to increasing the scholarship quota in the future.

The Ambassador also informed that the consultative mechanism between the two countries would soon take a decision in this regard.

She further said the two countries still have a lot to do in the areas of economic partnership, investment and trade. The 1962 Revolution had turned to be the driver of Egypt's development, Ambassador Elgebaly said the National Day had inspired the people of her country to move forward on the path of continuous development while maintaining the glorious history.

Heads and officials of diplomatic missions, high-ranking officials of the government, entrepreneurs and senior media persons were present on the occasion.