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Both Houses of Federal Parliament have passed the budget presented by the government for the upcoming fiscal year 2080/81 BS (2023/24).

Today's meeting of the National Assembly passed the Appropriation Bill, 2080, received from the House of Representatives with a majority.

In the meeting, Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat presented a proposal for the passage of the Appropriation Bill, 2080.

Before this, a proposal for cutting the expenses of different headings under the Appropriation Bill, 2080, was rejected by a majority of the members.

The respective ministers had responded to queries raised in the course of deliberation on different topics under the Appropriation Bill, 2080 in the meeting.

The House of Representatives passed the budget for the coming fiscal year on June 28. The government had presented the budget for fiscal year 2080/81 in both Houses of the Federal Parliament on May 29.

With the passage of the budget from both Houses, the way for the implementation of the budget has opened from July 17.

The government has said discussions are on regarding implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project. Nepal and China signed an agreement on the BRI project in 2017.

Delivering a statement in the National Assembly meeting today, Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud said, "Discussions are being held between the two countries regarding implementation of BRI."  

Though the agreement on BRI was reached in 2017, no decision has been made so far on the modality of moving ahead the projects. Before this, Ambassador of China to Nepal, Chen Song had claimed during the inauguration of Pokhara International Airport on January 1, 2023 that a project under the BRI had been implemented.

Foreign Affairs Minister Saud however said that no project has been moved ahead under the BRI before this as well.

He  said that a feasibility study of the Kerung-Kathmandu Railway and the Inter-country Power Transmission Line between the two countries is being carried out. These projects were signed during the visit of China's then Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Nepal in March 2022.

Stating that diplomatic initiatives were being made to build independent view in international relations on the basis of merits and demerits, he said, "Nepal's diplomatic efforts are directed towards building independent opinion on international issues on the basis of merits and demerits, voting and making the international ties just, fair, responsible and cooperative."

During the deliberation on budget and programme allocated for the Foreign Ministry and subordinate bodies under the Appropriation Bill, 2060, former Foreign Minister Bimala Paudyal Rai enquired whether Nepal deviated from the non-aligned foreign policy. 

Stating that Nepal has been strengthening and expanding relations with other countries including neighboring countries on the basis of universal equality, mutual respect and benefit, Minister Saud mentioned that Nepal has been able to  achieve credibility and respect in the world due to the independent, balanced, impartial and objective point of view it has adopted.

Foreign Minister Saud had participated in the Summit of Non-Aligned Movement held at Baku of Azerbaijan from July 3-6. The Foreign Minister briefed the upper house of the Federal Parliament about his address in the Summit.

"I had expressed the commitment of the Government of Nepal on collaboration for further highlighting the relevance and significance of the Non-Aligned Movement in the changing international scenario as well as laid emphasis on solidarity and collaboration of Non-Aligned Movement member countries for the resolution of burning political and economic issues of the world. Therefore, I would like to make it clear that Nepal's commitment towards adopting non-aligned foreign policy is consistent," he said.

The governments of Nepal and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in regard with the implementation of the phase III of the 'The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS)' program. 

Finance Secretary Arjun Prasad Pokhrel and Japan's ambassador to Nepal Kikuta Yutaka signed and exchanged the MoU on behalf of their respective sides amidst a program at the Ministry of Finance today.

As per the agreement, the Government of Japan is to provide Rs 385 million to Nepal for the implementation of the scholarship program in 2023 and 2024 AD. The facility is targeted at the civil service employees to pursue the Master's and Ph.D. degrees.

Nepal has been receiving these kinds of financial support for human resource development from Japan since 2015.

So far, 100 civil service employees have been benefited by the Japan-funded scholarship scheme.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness over the death of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's wife Sita Dahal.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that he was saddened by the death of Sita Dahal.

"Extremely saddened to learn about the demise of Mrs. Sita Dahal. I express my sincere condolences to @cmprachanda and pray the departed soul finds eternal peace. Om Shanti," he said.