Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal Southern Agricultural Science and Technology Park was formally inaugurated in Chitwan on Tuesday.
The park was built by China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center on the premises of the Agriculture and Forestry University in Chitwan. Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolis Renu Dahal along with Chinese Ambassador Chen Song, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Agriculture and Rural Committee Wang Shijie, and Academic Director of Chitwan Agriculture and Forestry University Sharda Thapaliya jointly inaugurated the park.
The park has been seen as the beginning of agricultural development cooperation between China and Nepal under the South Asian Poverty Reduction and Development Cooperation Initiative.
Speaking on the occasion, Academic Director Thapaliya expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for launching the park in Chitwan. “As the largest and oldest agriculture and forestry university in the country, it is a great honor to participate in and support the Southern Agricultural Science and Technology Park project, working alongside Chinese agricultural experts to implement hybrid rice cultivation in Nepal,” she added.
Similarly, Wang Shijie, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Agriculture and Rural Committee, expressed gratitude to all the Chinese and Nepali agricultural scientists, experts, and leaders involved in the project.
The Nepal Southern Agricultural Science and Technology Park – named as the China (Chongqing) – Nepal Hybrid Rice Science and Technology Park – aims to enhance the production of hybrid rice in Nepal and strengthen cooperation in rice cultivation, livestock and fish farming, and greenhouse vegetable production.
The park is a part of the commitment that Yuan Jiajun, Secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee, made during his visit to Nepal in July 2023 to reaffirm Chongqing’s willingness to work with Nepal in areas such as poverty reduction, industrial development, cultural tourism, and education and training.
Also speaking on the occasion, Bharatpur Mayor Renu Dahal thanked the Chinese Embassy in Nepal for facilitating the visit of Chongqing’s agricultural expert delegation to Chitwan. She thanked the delegation for collaborating with the agricultural experts from Agriculture and Forestry University to conduct scientific research and experiments aimed at improving rice production and yield in Nepal.
Likewise, Chinese Ambassador Song said the launch of the park is a concrete action in implementing the directives outlined in the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
According to a press statement issued by the Nepal Office of the China Foundation for Rural Development, the park aligns with the consensus reached by the leaders of China and Nepal during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal in 2019.
Zou Zhiqiang, Director of the Nepal Office of the China Foundation for Rural Development, expressed commitment to diligently providing services to all involved in the project while ensuring its successful implementation in Nepal.
