Nepal floods: China announces $1 million assistance; will aid in reconstruction of Hanuman Dhoka

Kathmandu: China on Tuesday announced USD 1 million assistance to flood-hit Nepal as the country’s Vice Premier Wang Yang held talks with his Nepalese counterpart on ways to enhance bilateral ties.

Wang made the announcement during the Nepal-China deputy prime minister-level meeting he jointly chaired with Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar.

Another Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, health minister Girirajmani Pokharel, secretaries of Nepal’s ministries of finance, health and tourism and chiefs of Nepal’s Investment Board, National Planning Commission and National Reconstruction Authority also took part in the meeting.

Over 115 people have been killed in rain-triggered flood and landslides in Nepal with over six million people affected by natural calamity.

Meanwhile, the reconstruction of the historic nine-store palace at the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a world heritage site, that was damaged two years ago in a devastating earthquake began on Tuesday with Mahara and Wang jointly inaugurating the re-building works of the 17th-century structure.

The reconstruction effort is being undertaken with economic and technical support from the Chinese government.

The Chinese government will complete the reconstruction of the palace in five years at a cost of Rs 150 million, Bhes Narayan Dahal, chief of Archaeology Department, said.