China’s foreign minister makes surprise stop in Afghanistan
China’s foreign minister made a surprise stop in Kabul on Thursday to meet Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, even as the international community fumes over the hard-line movement’s broken promise a day earlier to open schools to girls beyond the sixth grade, Associated Press reported.
The official Bakhtar News Agency announced Wang Yi will meet with Taliban leaders “to discuss various issues including the extension of political relations, economic, and transit cooperation.”
The Taliban, who swept to power last August with the chaotic end to 20 years of war by a US and NATO coalition, have been seeking international recognition in order to open up their economy, which has been in free fall since their arrival.
China has not shown any inclination to recognize the Taliban government but it has avoided criticizing the new rulers, despite their repressive rules directed particularly at women, denying them unhindered access to work and school.
China has, however, kept its Embassy in Kabul open and offered limited emergency assistance, according to the Associated Press.
The US-led coalition unseated the Taliban in 2001 after they refused to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in America. They returned to power and installed an all male Taliban-only interim government. The international community has been urging them to open up the government to ethnic minorities, non -Taliban and women.
Wang is one of the highest level visitors to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return. China, while refusing to offer recognition, has been engaging with the Taliban since their takeover. China has economic and mining interests in Afghanistan and Afghans familiar with past talks between the Taliban and Chinese officials say Beijing wants Taliban commitments to prevent China’s Uighur opponents from setting up operations in Afghanistan.
Last July, however, Wang hosted a delegation from the group led by top Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in the Chinese city of Tianjin, shortly before the group seized power from Afghanistan’s elected government.
At that meeting, Wang sought assurances the Taliban would not allow anti-China groups to operate under their rule and referred to the group as “a pivotal military and political force in Afghanistan.” He said they are “expected to play an important role in the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction.”
There have been reports that militants from among the Turkic Muslim Uyghur minority native to China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang have found shelter in Afghanistan. China has carried out a campaign of repression against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, including locking a million or more away in political re-education camps, Associated Press reported.
The overseas East Turkistan Islamic Movement has for years fought a low-level insurgency against Chinese rule.
It has been aligned with the Islamic State affiliate known as Islamic State in Khorazan Province, an enemy of the Taliban, but its current operational status is not know.
Despite consistent and documented reports of Beijing’s crackdown the Uighurs, Wang was welcomed as a special guest this week at a summit in neighboring Pakistan of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
There Wang called for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. None of the OIC participants or host Pakistan, who has been particularly vocal about growing Islamophobia, mentioned China’s crackdown on its minority Muslims. That has included the destruction of mosques and punishment for those Uighurs who participate in religious edicts.
China also has interest in stability in Afghanistan, as it has been used as a base for insurgent attacks against its nationals in neighboring Pakistan. It also has a multi-billion dollar road project in Pakistan linking the Arabian Sea Port of Gwadar with China in the northwest, Associated Press reported.
PM visits 140-MW Tahanun Hydro, instructs for timely completion
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today inspected the under-construction 140-megawatt Tanahun Hydropower Project at Jhaputar of Rhishing Rural Municipality-1 in Tahanun, and instructed for its timely completion.
On the occasion, he inspected the project's dam site and power house and took updates about the progress in regard with the implementation of the project. PM Deuba pledged all required support on behalf of the government for the project construction.
The PM was here to attend some programmes in Tahanun and managed his time to visit the national pride project.
Managing operator at project promoter company Tanahun Hydropower Limited Kiran Kumar Shrestha apprised the PM of progress in the project development so far.
As he briefed the PM, the major works were being undertaken in three packages: 'package one' is about the construction of a 140-meter high dam and presently works to divert the river are going. Similarly, the works relating to the constructions of tunnel, power house and the supplies and hydro mechanical and electromechanical operations are dealt with under 'package two'. The 'package three' includes construction of a 220 KV double circuit from Damauli of the district to Bharatpur of Chitwan which is underway. So far, foundation works for 35 towers got completed and 16 towers have been built.
The project is expected to complete by the next five years (Asar, 2083 BS).
The Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) , European Investment Bank, Nepal government/Nepal Electricity Authority are the financial partners for the project and its estimated cost is US dollar 505 million. RSS
EC decides to print 20 million ballot papers for local polls
The Election Commission has decided to print 20 million ballot papers for the local level elections.
Speaking at a press conference organized in the Election Commission on Thursday, Assistant Spokesperson Surya Prasad Aryal said that the poll body has decided to print 10 percent more ballot papers than the voters.
The EC has already bought papers worth Rs 1.1 million to print the ballot papers.
He said that the Janak Education Material Centre will print the ballot papers.
The Commission has estimated that there will be 17.8 million voters in his election.
The final voter list, however, will be made public on March 27, Aryal said.
Nepse plunges by 16. 69 points on Thursday
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 16.69 points to close at 2,613.67 points on Thursday, the last day of the trading week.
Similarly, the sensitive dropped by 6. 17 points to close at 488.94 points.
A total of 5,298,543 units of the shares of 224 companies were traded for Rs 3. 24 billion.
Meanwhile, Rastra Utthan Laghubitta Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10 percent. Likewise, Nepal Finance Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 4.67 percent.
At the end of the day, the total market capitalisation stood at Rs 3.70 trillion.
Government endorses integrated security policy for local level elections
The government has endorsed an integrated security policy to hold the local level elections in a free, fair and fearless manner.
A meeting of the Security Committee presided over by Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand on Thursday endorsed the security policy.
“The Security Committee meeting passed the security policy needed for local level elections,” Phanindra Mani Pokharel, spokesperson at the Home Ministry said, adding, “The policy will help hold the local polls in a free, fair and fearless manner.”
Chiefs of all the security agencies were present in the meeting held this afternoon.
Pokharel said that the participants had floated their views on the security challenges and the strategies to be adopted to address those challenges.
The meeting also discussed the ways to manage security during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's three-day visit to Nepal starting from Friday.
NEA to buy electricity from India at Rs 38 per unit
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has decided to buy electricity with India at Rs 38 per unit from Friday.
Organizing a press conference on Thursday, NEA spokesperson Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai said that Nepal has made an agreement to buy electricity with India at a higher price so far.
Bhattarai said that Nepal has to pay Rs 38 per unit when it buys electricity with India at InRs 20.
Nepal had purchased electricity with India at InRs 8 per unit some time ago.
AIIB Offers New Facility to Reduce Cost of Infrastructure Loans
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) Board of Directors has approved the creation of a Special Fund Window (SFW) to make its financing more affordable to its less developed members. This is an additional effort by AIIB to further support its less developed members especially by reducing the cost of lending for Infrastructure for Tomorrow (i4t).
The SFW is a blended financing facility that will provide interest rate buy down to eligible sovereign-backed financing projects that are aligned with AIIB’s Corporate Strategy and identified according to AIIB’s regular rigorous investment process.
“Infrastructure investments and connectivity are crucial for lower-income countries to regain a growth momentum and to achieve long-term sustainable development goals in the post-COVID-19 era, while also dealing with climate change,” said AIIB President and Chair of the Board Jin Liqun. “Through the SFW, AIIB can support its less developed members with affordable pricing while still being consistent with the core elements of our business model to finance i4t. Although modest in scale, we are glad to be able to complement other multilateral development banks by bringing much needed additional financing to lower-income members.”
“Our Corporate Strategy commits to broadening the range of clients AIIB can support, with particular focus on our less developed members,” said Sir Danny Alexander, AIIB Vice President for Policy and Strategy. “For the first time, with the support of donors, this new facility will enable AIIB to offer more affordable loan pricing to these members. Combined with our Project Preparation Special Fund which makes grants to support the preparation of high quality projects, we hope this new facility will help meet the needs of our less developed members and global efforts to support sustainable development and tackle climate change.”
AIIB has made gradual efforts to expand its offering to less developed members, including through AIIB’s Project Preparation Special Fund. In 2020 and in response to the pandemic, AIIB created a Special Fund Window under the COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Facility offering an interest rate buy-down mechanism for financing extended to less developed members. The new SFW will build on the experiences gained and further extend AIIB’s financing to these members.
The SFW includes unique features that demonstrate innovation in the field of blended finance. It will be funded by voluntary contributions from AIIB’s members. Decision-making authority will reside with AIIB’s existing multilateral governance structure, and the SFW will operate according to the rules and regulations approved by AIIB’s Board of Directors. For operational efficiency reasons, the SFW implementation will be fully incorporated into AIIB’s regular investment process.
Projects under the SFW would contribute to supporting AIIB’s Corporate Strategy priorities and targets. AIIB’s Corporate Strategy (2021-2030) combines the Bank’s firm commitment to sustainability with a clear operational focus on (1) Green Infrastructure, (2) Connectivity and Regional Cooperation, (3) Technology-enabled Infrastructure and (4) Private Capital Mobilization. It sets targets on climate financing (50 percent of actual financing approvals by 2025), cross-border connectivity (25-30 percent of actual financing approvals by 2030) and private sector financing (50 percent of total approved financing by 2030).
Sansho Restaurant: For authentic Japanese
Sansho Restaurant is an ideal place to quench your craving for Japanese food. Located beside the Saleways Department Store in Pulchowk, this charming joint is all about exploring Japanese food culture. The place’s decor, with its vibrant colors and arts, reflects the true Japanese spirit too. The menu of this restaurant, which is managed by Naulo Hospitality, specializes in different types of sushi, curry and ramen.
Chef’s Special:
Bento Box
Japanese curry
Unagi special sushi
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Location: Pulchowk, Lalitpur
Meal for 2: Rs 1,500
Phone pay: Yes
Contact: 9841169359
