Review Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal, April 14, 2020: Withstanding to the rounds of controversies over the failed attempt purchase the medial equipments to stem the spreading threat of corona virus (COVID-19), the Nepal government has requested to sign government to government (G2G) deal with northern neighbor China for the purchase of medical equipments.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali urged to this effect while talking with State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Wang Yi, on Monday evening.
As the government has already handover the responsibilities to the Nepal Army to purchase of essential medicines and equipments after it failed to do so under the government’s mechanism, it is believed that foreign minister Gyawali would have aimed to facilitate the Nepal Army to deal with the Chinese government.
However, the government would backtrack even from the decision as handing over the responsibilities to the Nepal Army to purchase the medial equipments has also been criticized from different sectors including from the government head Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
As any dean between the national defense force and any of government agencies in China would not be considered as G2G, it is believed that the government would have intended to sign deal on its own. However, the government has not made clear over the issue.
It is said that foreign minister Gyawali requested his Chinese counterpart Wang to facilitate for the purchase of essential medicines and medical equipment on G-to-G basis without elaborating about the role of the Nepal Army to purchase the medical equipments.
Foreign Minister Gyawali made such a request for China’s cooperation and facilitation for the purchase of essential medicines and medical equipment on G-to-G basis, reads the press statement issued by the ministry.
During the conversation, the Nepali and Chinese foreign ministers shared views on the ongoing measures taken by their respective governments in the fight against Covid-19, the ministry has said.
