Officials of Nepal and China will hold discussion on Wednesday and Thursday to conclude the protocol of trade and transit agreement signed by the countries.
The Chinese team arrived Tuesday to take part in the discussion to be held at Soaltee Hotel. A team led by Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ravi Shankar Sainju will lead the Nepali team.
“This is the third round of discussion on the protocol. It has already been held in Lhasa and Beijing earlier. Both the sides are open on many things. Let’s hope the protocol will be concluded this time,” Joint Secretary Sainju told Setopati.
The two sides will discuss on the ports, routes and modality for bilateral trade, according to Sainju. “The Chinese side in earlier discussions has said that any port and route that will be easier can be used. There needs to be additional discussion on the modality though,” he revealed.
The two countries had signed the agreement on trade and transit when KP Sharma Oli was prime minister two years ago. The countries were expected to sign on the protocol when Oli visited China in May after becoming prime minister for the second time but it could not be signed as additional discussion was needed.
A Nepali team had then gone to China to hold discussion on the protocol.
Signing of the protocol will make import of good from China easier.