China offers $483M in aid for Nepal’s quake reconstruction

World Today

Foreign delegates stand near damaged buildings at Basantapur Durbar Square heritage site in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Delegates representing some 53 nations, donor agencies and development partners will attend the International Donors’ Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction on Thursday, June 25, to help Nepal rebuild after powerful earthquakes shook the Himalayan nation in April and May and took more than 8,700 lives. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday that China will offer 3 billion yuan ($483 million) in aid for Nepal’s reconstruction after a massive earthquake jolted the Himalayan country on April 25.

Wang told the Chinese media in Kathmandu that that a comprehensive Chinese aid plan for Nepal covers five areas, namely unconditional financial donations, loans for reconstruction projects, encouragement for Chinese enterprises and non-governmental groups to participate in Nepal’s economic reconstruction, help train professional and skilled personnel, and help restoring cultural heritage sites damaged by the quake.

“We would like to tell Nepal and the international community that China will continue to stand with Nepal in its post disaster reconstruction,” said the foreign minister.


China offering help for Nepal’s quake reconstruction
Nepal is struggling to recover from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. At a press conference in Kathamandu, China’s foreign minister said China will offer about 483 million US dollars in aid to Nepal for earthquake reconstruction. CCTV’s Xing Zheming filed this report.


nepal

Wang earlier announced the aid package at the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction.

Describing Nepal as a country with very close ties with China and an privileged partner in bilateral and international affairs, the foreign minister also said that the local governments of China will also play a role in Nepal’s reconstruction through province-to-province and city-to-city channels, while more efforts would be made to help Nepal build its own disaster coping and rehabilitation capabilities.

Story by Xinhua