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Donald Trump's "explosive" tariffs are now in effect, including 104% on China, the world's biggest exporter. The list also includes 60 of the "worst offending" countries, who will face taxation ranging from 11% to 50%.

The extra tariffs on China kicked in after Beijing refused to meet Trump's deadline to drop its own retaliatory duties against the US, BBC reported.

Trump has stated that tariffs are necessary for his economic vision, but experts warn that a full-fledged trade war is possible. Some Americans support tariffs, while others fear a recession.

US financial markets recovered early on Tuesday, but then fell once again after the White House confirmed the extra tariffs on China, according to BBC.

While China prepares to impose a 104% tax on many of its exports to the United States, anti-Trump sentiment is growing on the Chinese internet.
 

Apple is shifting more of its iPhone shipments to the US from India in an effort to navigate the financial shockwaves caused by a fresh round of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

The computer giant's stock has dropped 19% in three trading days, the largest decline in over 25 years, due to investor concern about rising costs from new tariffs on Chinese imports, according to Firstpost.

With tariffs of up to 54% on Chinese shipments, Apple has turned to India, where the equivalent rate is 26%. The move is intended as a short-term hedge while Apple seeks tariff exemptions, but the company has not yet overhauled its China-centric manufacturing network, which is still critical to its worldwide supply chain, Firstpost reported.

The death toll from the Myanmar earthquakes neared 2,900, while 72 people remain missing in Thailand.

As reported by Myanmar's State Administration Council communications team, the death toll is 2,886, with 4,639 injured and 373 still missing, Xinhua News reported.
In neighboring Thailand, 72 people remain missing in Bangkok, where the search for bodies continues at the site of the collapsed State Audit Office tower block.

Two deadly earthquakes with magnitudes 7.7 and 6.4 shook Myanmar and Thailand last Friday, with the epicenter in the Sagaing region, which apparently experienced the worst damage.
Overnight, Thai and international rescue crews took turns using sniffer dogs and heavy machinery to raise massive concrete blocks to reach the missing people.

A rescue official acknowledged that the teams are restricted in the number of heavy machines they can deploy simultaneously, as doing so could risk shifting large, buried debris.

Around 100 personnel were inside the State Audit Office tower building in Bangkok when it fell on Friday due to tremors from a strong earthquake near Myanmar's Mandalay area.
Several countries provided aid to Myanmar in response to the earthquakes. Japan announced on Wednesday that it was ready to pay $6 million in emergency grants to earthquake victims.

The government has also sent a team of Nepal Army with medical relief after the devastating earthquake in Myanmar last week caused massive loss of human lives.

China successfully sent a test satellite for satellite internet technology into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the country's northwest, on Tuesday.

The satellite successfully achieved the intended orbit after being launched by a Long March-2D carrier rocket at 12:00 p.m. (Beijing Time), according to Xinhua.

Technical verification and experimentation, such as mobile-to-satellite broadband connections and space-ground network integration, are the main uses of test satellites for satellite internet technologies.

The launch marks the 567th mission for the Long March series carrier rockets, Xinhua reported.

More than 2,000 people in Myanmar have been killed following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that affected areas as far as Thailand and China.

Myanmar's military government has proclaimed a week of national mourning, with a minute of silence scheduled for later on Tuesday at 12:51 local, the exact time the tremor struck on Friday, BBC reported.

 In neighboring Thailand, 20 people have perished, and many have been evacuated from Bangkok's shattered buildings. Rescuers in both nations are still continuing their hunt for survivors, though hopes are diminishing since the vital window—the first 72 hours following a quake—has passed.

The UN believes the earthquake has exacerbated "an already dire crisis" in Myanmar, which is in the midst of a four-year civil conflict, according to BBC.

Despite the wreckage, reports indicate that the country's military officials are still conducting air attacks against pro-democracy rebel forces.

China's military on Tuesday said it had begun joint army, navy and rocket force exercises around Taiwan to "serve as a stern warning and powerful deterrent against Taiwanese independence", calling Taiwan's President Lai Ching-Te a "parasite", Reuters reported.

The exercises around the democratically governed island, which China views as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring under its control, come after Lai called Beijing a "foreign hostile force" last month.

China detests Lai as a "separatist," and in a video accompanying the Eastern Theater Command's announcement depicted him as cartoon bug held by a pair of chopsticks above a burning Taiwan.

"The focus is on exercises such as combat readiness patrols at sea and in the air, seizing comprehensive control, striking maritime and land targets and imposing blockade controls on key areas and routes," the Eastern Theater Command said on its official WeChat social media account, according to Reuters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Bangladesh’s interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, in Beijing on Friday, AFP reported.

The visit comes as Bangladesh seeks new allies in the wake of strained relations with India.

Yunus is on a four-day visit to China to strengthen ties and attract investment. He previously went to the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, according to AFP.

This is his first bilateral visit after taking office in August 2024, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations.

 Yunus is joined by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, High Representative Khalilur Rahman, SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

United States President Donald Trump says he would be willing to reduce tariff rates on China to secure a deal with TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the social media app used by 170 million Americans, Reuters reported.

Trump's proposal came as he proposed a 25% tariff on imported autos and auto parts, the latest salvo in a deepening trade war that has strained relations with allies and partners.Earlier this month, Trump boosted additional duties on all Chinese imports to 20%, up from 10% in February, according to Reuters.

Under US law, ByteDance was obligated to withdraw from TikTok by January 19 or face a ban.  However, Trump allowed a 75-day grace period, which will end on April 5.

Trump has stated that he is open to extend the deadline if an agreement on the social media app is not achieved.
 

Experts and politicians have said that Nepal should learn lessons for the country's economic growth and physical prosperity from China's development initiatives.

At a program organized by Friends of Silk Road Club-Nepal on 'China's Two Sessions 2025: Lessons, Opportunities, and Implications for Nepal' on Thursday, they stated that Nepal can learn lessons and benefit from China's economic rise made in the last four decades.

Standing Committee Member of the CPN-UML and former Industry Minister Karna Bahadur Thapa said we should expand Nepal-China relations and take maximum benefits through partnership for the implementation of sustainable development policies. "For this, we should deepen our diplomatic ties through political level," Thapa added.

Likewise, CPN (Maoist Center) central committee member and Bagmati Province Assembly Member Yubraj Chaulagain called for intensive collaboration on economic issues between Nepal and China adding that rising economic power of China could be beneficial for Nepal's development efforts.

Similarly, Nepali Congress central committee member Madhu Acharya argued that Nepal could advance ahead by taking technical expertise from China adding that China's stride in technological advancement was impressive.

Also speaking at the programme, Executive Director of CEDA of Tribhuvan University (TU) Prof Dr Arjun Kumar Baral and foreign affairs expert Gopal Khanal said that China's strategies on economic growth, industrialization, modernization, good-governance and reforms are the key areas that Nepal should learn from Chinese experiences.

General Secretary of Club Dr Kalyan Raj Sharma stressed the need of investment partnership with China adding that Nepal can bring in a huge amount of FDI from China by further deepening our ties.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has pointed out the need to further strengthen our cooperation with India for Nepal's sustainable development with a focus on an investment increase for promotion of mutual interests. 

In his address to the Kasthamandap Dialogue organised by the Foundation for Peace, Development and Socialism, here today, the Speaker stressed this. 

In the Dialogue centered on Belt and Road Initiate (BRI) and Nepal-China cooperation, the Speaker called for identifying new potential areas for Nepal-China cooperation and include them as projects under the BRI. 

As a close neighbor and good friend of China, Nepal takes pride in China's remarkable progress and aims to benefit from its extraordinary development through a broader economic partnership, Ghimire remarked. "We highly appreciate China's support and cooperation in Nepal's developmental endeavors," he added, expressing hope for significant assistance from the northern neighbor as Nepal moves towards graduating from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC) to a middle-income country by 2026 and also for the sustainability of this status.

Ghimire further highlighted that Nepal's historic relationship with China, based on mutual trust, understanding, and friendship, has been strengthened through the BRI. "This initiative is not just about infrastructure for Nepal; it should be viewed as an opportunity for Nepal to explore new avenues for economic growth," he said.

He also suggested that Nepal, leveraging its geographical position, has the potential to be developed into a 'transit hub.' To realize this, Ghimire stressed the need for enhancing bilateral collaboration on physical infrastructure, including roadways, railways, information technology, and trade relations.

Reflecting on the longstanding diplomatic ties between Nepal and China, which have flourished over the past seven decades, Ghimire affirmed that Nepal’s policies are guided by the five principles (Panchasheel) of peaceful coexistence. "We are always ready to take steps to deepen the cordial relations between our two nations," he added. He also reiterated Nepal’s commitment to the 'One China Policy' and described China as a reliable and significant development partner for Nepal.

Former Prime Minister and senior CPN (Unified Socialist) leader Jhalanath Khanal, who also spoke at the event, highlighted the BRI as a global development project that offers abundant opportunities for infrastructure development and expanding connectivity. "It is a boon for many countries around the world," he said, urging Nepal to ensure it capitalizes on the potential benefits.

China’s Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, shared about China's achievements in infrastructure development, information technology, industrialization, innovation, and research. He reiterated China’s strong support for Nepal’s developmental goals.

During the Dialogue, business communities and academics from Nepal and China are scheduled to exchange views on the implementation of the BRI in Nepal, its opportunities, and challenges.

Recent reports of a Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China have triggered global concerns, with echoes of the early Covid-19 pandemic raising speculation about a potential health emergency. However, HMPV is not a new or mysterious virus. It has been well-documented for decades as a significant cause of respiratory illness in children, elderly and immunocompromised individuals.

Identified in 2001 at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, HMPV was initially isolated from children with respiratory illnesses. Published in Nature Medicine, this study indicated all Dutch children were exposed to HMPV by the age of five. Retrospective analyses, however, suggest HMPV has been circulating in humans for 50 years.

HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the Metapneumovirus genus. This enveloped, single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus has two genetic lineages, A and B, further divided into six sublineages: A1, A2.1, A2.2.1, A2.2.2, B1 and B2. Emerging sublineages A2.2.1 and A2.2.2, were recently identified in pediatric respiratory infections in South India, as reported by the International Society of Infectious Diseases in 2025.

A Virology Journal 2009 genetic study by Vanderbilt University suggests HMPV diverged from Avian Metapneumovirus 200–400 years ago via zoonotic spillover from an avian reservoir, with phylogenetic evidence indicating a spillover event around 200 years ago, emphasizing HMPV’s long-standing presence in human populations.

Symptoms, risk groups and treatment

HMPV is a common etiological agent of respiratory tract infections, affecting infants, children under 15, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Nearly all children are exposed by age five, with reinfections occurring throughout life. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it spreads via respiratory droplets, close contact, or contaminated surfaces, similar to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, with an incubation period of 3–6 days. Symptoms vary from mild cough, nasal congestion, fever, and breath shortness to severe pneumonia, bronchiolitis, asthma exacerbations, especially in high-risk groups.

Infants and young children are prone to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The elderly, often with comorbidities like asthma, may experience complications. Immunocompromised individuals face prolonged or severe illness, and pregnant women are at risk of respiratory complications that could affect both maternal and fetal health.

No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine exists for HMPV. Management relies on supportive care, supplemental oxygen, antipyretics and intravenous hydration when needed.

Seasonal outbreaks

HMPV is a seasonal respiratory virus, primarily circulating during late winter and early spring in temperate regions, similar to influenza and RSV. Recent reports of increased cases in China and parts of Asia align with this seasonal pattern. US CDC data also highlight annual outbreaks during these months, influenced by climatic conditions.

Despite comparisons to the Covid-19 pandemic, HMPV is not a novel virus. Identified over two decades back, it has been extensively studied, with over 300 PubMed scientific articles available. While it causes localized outbreaks, its transmission dynamics and clinical severity do not indicate pandemic potential. For instance, HMPV was the predominant virus during the 2002–2003 winter in Norwegian children hospitalized for respiratory infections, as reported in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Severe pneumonia occurred in some cases, but widespread outbreaks have remained limited to specific populations.

HMPV outbreaks have been documented globally, including Israel (2003), Japan (2003–2004), South Africa (2009-2013), Nicaragua (2011-2016), Western Sydney (2018), South Korea (2022), India (2022), China (2017-2023) and various regions. In Pakistan, HMPV accounted for 5–7 percent of pneumonia admissions in children at Aga Khan University Hospital (2009–2012). HMPV causes 5–10 percent of pediatric acute respiratory infections (ARIs) hospitalizations and is the second most common viral pathogen in certain settings. ARIs are a major global public health problem, causing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in children.

A 2019 study at Nepal’s Kanti Children’s Hospital revealed a prevalence of 13 percent among children with ARIs, with infections more frequent in those under three years old (22 percent). Symptoms like cough and fever were universally observed.

Besides, data from Nepal’s Sarlahi district (2011–2014) detected HMPV in five percent of infants, identifying three genotypes (A2, B1, B2). A recent Chinese CDC analysis ranked HMPV second among 11 respiratory viruses affecting children under 15 years, with a positivity rate of 6.2 percent in influenza-like illness.

These findings reflect a seasonal uptick, not an unprecedented surge. Factors like colder weather and increased indoor crowding contribute to HMPV’s seasonal prevalence.

Covid-19 lessons

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of preparedness, evidence-based communication and robust public health strategies in managing infectious disease outbreaks. While HMPV does not pose the same threat as Covid-19, its current attention emphasizes the need to apply these lessons. Strengthened surveillance systems are essential for early detection, while public education can counter misinformation, reduce anxiety and encourage preventive behaviors. Investment in research on HMPV’s pathogenesis, treatments and vaccine development is key to mitigating its long-term impacts and bolstering public health resilience.

Precautions

The rise in HMPV cases in China and India warrants vigilance but not alarm. Vulnerable populations—infants, rural children, immunocompromised individuals—are particularly at risk, in regions with limited healthcare resources like Nepal. Preventive measures, supportive care and community-driven initiatives are critical to minimizing HMPV’s burden.

Between 2011 and 2014, HMPV infections in rural southern Nepal were associated with adverse outcomes, including an increased risk of small-for-gestational-age births in pregnant women. Interventions targeting febrile respiratory illness in pregnancy could improve maternal and neonatal health in resource-limited settings.

Hygiene practices, regular handwashing and respiratory etiquette, alongside isolation during illness, can reduce HMPV transmission. Enhanced diagnostic capabilities and heightened awareness will support disease management and safeguard at-risk groups.

Policymakers, healthcare providers and community leaders must collaborate to strengthen surveillance systems, improve diagnostics and develop effective preventive strategies. Public health messaging should prioritize education and reassurance, focusing on practical actions to protect vulnerable populations. By taking informed and measured steps, HMPV’s impact can be effectively mitigated, fostering resilience against future viral outbreaks.

The author is a researcher with a PhD degree at Nexus Institute of Research and Innovation

The Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML seem to have agreed on a common position on how to approach China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While the initiative has garnered support domestically, it remains uncertain whether China will accept Nepal's proposed terms, according to multiple sources.

A task force from the two parties has revised the draft of the BRI implementation plan initially proposed by the Chinese side in 2020. The document, now titled Framework for Cooperation instead of BRI Implementation Plan, has been sent to the Chinese side for initial negotiations, though it is yet to be finalized. The NC and UML are of the view that projects under the BRI should be funded through grants rather than loans. This condition may come up in high-level discussions, as BRI traditionally does not include provisions for grants.

During a meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba reiterated this same position agreed by the two coalition parties. However, Beijing has yet to formally respond. A senior Nepali official remarked, “The document prepared by the Nepali side is vague, but it is progress. It signals that Nepal is moving forward with the  BRI, which might encourage the Chinese side to sign the document.” According to the official, the Chinese side is desperate to change the narrative that since the signing of the BRI framework in 2017, not a single project has been executed in Nepal.

A UML leader privy to the development said: “The document does not mention about the investment modality which will be settled during the project implementation phase.”

Given the great power rivalry which has also affected the BRI project, the Chinese officials may accept the document. China is reportedly eager to alter the perception of inaction regarding the BRI in Nepal. Beijing has highlighted the Pokhara International Airport as a BRI project, despite its unclear status within the initiative. During a recent meeting in Chengdu, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the progress in the joint construction of the BRI, including the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, which he claimed benefits the Nepali people.

Under the BRI framework, Nepal and China will discuss areas such as connectivity, investment, trade, tourism, agriculture and infrastructure development. If China agrees to Nepal’s proposed document, specific projects may be announced during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit. CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel suggested that the new agreement could pave the way for mobilizing Chinese resources for Nepal's development.

According to officials, Chinese officials have also emphasized implementing agreements reached over the past decade, including those signed during President Xi Jinping’s 2019 visit to Nepal, rather than pursuing entirely new ones. The two countries are also discussing potential cooperation in the energy sector, including the construction of  cross-border transmission lines, a likely agenda item during Oli’s visit.

Additionally, Beijing is expected to seek renewed commitments from Nepal on the One-China policy. During her meeting with Wang, Foreign Minister Deuba reaffirmed Nepal’s adherence to the policy, asserting that Tibet (Xizang) and Taiwan are integral parts of China. She also assured that Nepal would not allow its territory to be used for activities harming China’s interests, nor support foreign interference in China’s internal affairs.

Raunab Singh Khatri, co-founder of the Aranika Project, a research firm that studies Nepal-China relations, recently published an article commenting on the evolving nature of the BRI. He noted: “The area of China’s international engagement has diversified; from hard infrastructure under the BRI, the trend slowly and gradually shifted toward digital and health connectivity, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“Will the BRI projects even take off in Nepal? The consensus among Nepali politicians is that Nepal can only accept grants and not loans—but the dilemma is that BRI is, by and large, a commercial project that is backed by “The Big Four” Chinese policy banks, Silk Road Fund, EXIM Bank, CDB, etc.”

A one-day photo exhibition entitled “Exploring Economic Opportunities: Nepal’s Development in the Context of China’s Economy” was successfully held in Nepal on Sunday.

The event organized by Friends of Silk Road Club – Nepal showcased major highlights of China’s Annual Sessions National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference 2024.

This year's Two Sessions had a particular significance as 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Inaugurating the event, former Deputy Prime Minister and CPN-ML General Secratary CP Mainali stressed on the importance of the Two Sessions, and how China’s rise poses opportunity for Nepal, especially for economic development and prosperity.

Recalling the Chinese Communist Party’s history and revolution and how generations of visionary Chinese leaders have led their people to create unprecedented development miracles, Mainali mentioned that China’s rise could be inspirational for other countries including Nepal. He also praised China’s continuous commitment to promote common development of all nations.

He also took the occasion to suggest the Nepali parties and leaders to practice multi-party cooperation rather than multi-party competition.

On the occasion, Leela Mani Paudyal, former Nepali Ambassador to China, explained about major accomplishments of China's top legislature and top political advisory body. Stressing on how the northern neighbor has been promoting high-quality development, Paudyal suggested that Nepal can take benefits in multiple areas.

Sharing his experiences of witnessing the mega Two Sessions up close in the past, the former ambassador pointed out that there are immense possibilities for Nepal in the fields like renewable energy, science and technology, agriculture and tourism, among others.

He further expressed confidence that the Belt and Road Initiative will be instrumental in promoting Nepal’s economic progress.

Over 30 photos were displayed in one-day photo exhibition, held inside the Patan Durbar Square, and witnessed by people from different walks of life and general public.

As China assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council and the Presidents of China and the US meet in San Francisco on the sidelines of APEC summit this month, the two superpowers are expected to take serious steps to bring the conflicting parties— Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine— into negotiating table for tangible outcomes.

As compliant partners and rational competitors, the two giants should work for the greater good of society, humankind and the universe, keeping in mind that they will be able to retain their prime positions only through decent leadership, equable and nimble rationality, amity and cooperation. 

Globalization and a corresponding drive toward neoliberalism had a role in shaping the global political order in the past. At present, the intricacy of ‘techno-geopolitics’ and ‘techno-nationalism’ is making a sway in digital, economic, social and democratic order thereby impelling a new global order.

‘Democracy’ is said to be in decline in many parts of the world, while its global state is ‘complex’, ‘fluid’ and ‘unequal’ in 2023 (Global State of Democracy Initiative). Considered to be a process rather than a “system” or any form of institution, democracy can come to a halt when it encounters critical threats from any actor— be it human or machine.

 “The human being ranks higher than machines and technology”, reads Article 12, Section 1 of the 1947 Constitution of Bremen, an entity of the German federal state, perhaps foreseeing the prospective supremacy of machines (AI) over humans. 

An Open Letter titled “Pause Giant AI Experiments” originally signed by a 1000-plus tech, social and AI leaders around the world on March 22, 2023 has garnered more than 33700 signatures, including that of this author. 

It reads, “Contemporary AI systems are now becoming human-competitive at general tasks, and we must ask ourselves: Should we let machines flood our information channels with propaganda and untruth? Should we automate away all the jobs, including the fulfilling ones? Should we develop nonhuman minds that might eventually outnumber, outsmart, obsolete and replace us? Should we risk the loss of control over our civilization? Such decisions must not be delegated to unelected tech leaders. Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks manageable…” 

Unlawful development and deployment of generative AI has heightened risks of weaponization of AI technology to the detriment of humanity and human civilizations. The extensive misuse of AI has been posing a serious threat to democracy and humanity through ‘deep-fakes’ or ‘scams’.

After a Covid-19 pandemic that continues to haunt humanity, the world is witnessing two major threats—the “tech threat” that is challenging the sovereignty of nations, posing crucial threats to democracy and impinging on personal sovereign dignity of individuals; and the “religious radicalism” that could foment civilizational clashes and lead to disastrous consequences like ethnic cleansing. These two threats can sweep human civilization by wreaking havoc around the world.

Civilization clashes—be it Hindu-Muslim conflicts or the Manipur violence in India, Islam-Christian tensions around the world after 9/11, Black-White racial clashes in the US, the Rohingya sweeping in Myanmar, ethnic conflicts in Africa or Middle-East or ethnic clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh, the  diplomatic fiasco between India and Canada that is deep-rooted to religious radicalism or the recent Hamas attack in Israel and the Israeli counter-attack that are fuelling Muslim-Jews clashes—all reflect domination of religion over religion, culture over culture, human over human, nation over nation, and civilization over civilization. These developments could permeate beyond national boundaries and end up challenging the existing global social, civilizational or democratic order. 

Transnational issues such as terrorism, war, crimes, financial issues, climate change, economic stability, energy and food security, intellectual property rights, cybersecurity, nuclear and AI threats, maritime security, poverty and pandemics are also causing chaos worldwide.  

The author is a geopolitical analyst. This article is part 2 of a three-part series

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is currently on a China visit, suffered a heart attack on Wednesday.

A CPN (Maoist Center) leader said that he has been admitted to a Beijing-based hospital after experiencing heart-related complications.

“He suffered a sudden heart attack on Wednesday. He was rushed to a hospital. Now his condition is normal,” the leader said.

According to a source, Minister Shrestha suffered a mild heart attack.

He reached Beijing on Monday evening to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Wang Xiaohong.

China had organized the Belt and Road Forum for the first time in 2017 and second time in 2019.

Nepal and China have signed a 12-point agreement and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is on a week-long official visit to China, and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.

According to the Secretariat, Nepali and Chinese officials signed the agreements on human resources, Hilasa Simikot road, road infrastructure with China, support for improving digital economy, agriculture, livestock and herbal medicines among other issues.

An agreement has also been reached to form a joint technical working group to study trade and payments between Nepal and China.