A handover ceremony of Solar Energy Power Station Project took place at Lomanthang of Mustang district this afternoon. The project was completed by the grant assistance of the Government of Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China (TAR, PRC). The total capacity of this power project is 70 kilowatts and provides power to 221 households of about 1400 people of the area where other sources of energy are not available. This very place of Lomanthang is uniquein the development of human civilization.
The handover document was signed amidst a special ceremony at Lomanthang by Mr. Baldeb Joshi, Local Development Officer of Mustang from Nepalese side and Mr. Ma Qinsheng, Deputy Director General of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China and the function was witnessed by Mr. Purna Chandra Bhattarai, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, Mr. Jhabindra P. Aryal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Purushottam Dhungel, Consul, Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa. Present on the occasion were Chief District Officer and DSP of Mustang district. A nine member Chinese team including Mr. Cheng Ji, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu and Deputy Chief Mr. Ni Ma Duo Ji of Zhongba County adjoining district of Mustang were present at the handover ceremony.
With regard to this project, a development cooperation agreement was signed in November 2014 between the Government of Nepal and TAR, PRC for development focused on livelihood, living standard, healthcare, rural roads etc. For this the Government of TAR, PRC provides 10 million RMB each year to the 15 bordering districts with China under a framework agreement which stipulates 50 million RMB for a period of five years and there is a practice to continue in the following years.
This support has greatly helped in the livelihood as well as socio-economic development of the people in the districts. Such cooperation has substantially contributed to develop friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries.
On this occasion, Joint Secretaries Bhattarai and Aryal expressed their gratitude to the Government of TAR, PRC for their generous support on behalf of the Government of Nepal and they also hoped that enhanced level of cooperation will be provided in the days ahead.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singha Durbar, Kathmandu
11 September 2015