China to provide Rs 2.4 billion in military assistance to Nepal

China has agreed to provide 150 million RMB (Rs 2.4 billion) to Nepal Army in next three years as part of China’s Provision of Military Assistance Gratis to Nepal.

The deputy prime minister and defence minister Ishwar Pokharel and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe signed an agreement for the assistance in Beijing on Saturday, according to a press note issued by the Defense Ministry. “The assistance will be used for humanitarian and disaster relief works.
China has increased its military assistance, mainly non-lethal assistance, to Nepal Army in recent years.

Earlier, China had announced 150 million RMB (Rs 2.4 billion) in assistance to Nepal Army for humanitarian and disaster relief works as part of its package assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction during the visit of Chinese defence minister and state councilor general Chang Wanquan in 2017.

During his meeting with Fenghe, minister Pokharel said that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit has taken Nepal-China relations to new heights. He also reiterated Nepal’s commitment for ‘One-China Policy’.

Fenghe, on his part, praised friendly relations between Nepal Army and the People’s Liberation Army of China, and said that his government was eager to support Nepal Army in capacity building.

The assistance was first announced during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent two-day Nepal visit.