Three Nepali villages sign MoU with three Chinese villages

KATHMANDU: Three villages in Nepal have signed a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three villages in China under the ‘China Rural Villages and Vibrant Village in Nepal’ program of the China Foundation for Rural Development.

The MoUs were signed during the 10th anniversary celebration of the CFRD amid a ceremony in Kathmandu on Monday.

The villages paired under this agreement are: Qilong in Sichuan Province of China with Gotikhel of Lalitpur, Pingyang in Sichuan Province of China with Khokana village of Lalitpur, and Gaungang (China) with Kimthang village of Nuwakot. These villages will share development as well as cultural experiences in the coming days, according to the CFRD.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, said the CFRD has been playing a significant role over the past decade in areas such as drinking water, education and poverty alleviation in Nepal. He expressed confidence that such initiatives would further strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Similarly, Rabindra Maharjan, Ward Chairperson of Lalitpur-21, said CFRD’s projects have provided crucial support for child development and poverty reduction in his ward.

Also speaking on the occasion, Nandalal Majhi, Vice-Chairperson of the Social Welfare Council, acknowledged CFRD’s important contributions to poverty alleviation in Nepal.

CFRD Executive Director Chen Hantao said that they have been supporting Nepal in poverty reduction and humanitarian aid.

CFRD projects have contributed to poverty alleviation by promoting hybrid rice farming, high-quality vegetable cultivation, and similar programs in Nepal.

The event also featured successful experiences in agriculture, disaster management, and other fields.

The CFRD began its operations in Nepal in 2015, specifically focusing on post-earthquake recovery efforts.