On May 17th, the Ministry of Commerce successfully inaugurated the opening ceremony of the Seminar on Trade and Investment Law for Nepal, hosted by the MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai). The ceremony was graced by the presence of Wu Zhong, President of Shanghai Business School, Chen Wei, Executive Vice Dean of the College of International Education of Shanghai Business School and Deputy Director of the MOFCOM Training Base, and Lin Shuyua, Vice President and Secretary General of the Shanghai Pudong International Chamber of Commerce.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal on August 1, 1955, the traditional friendship and friendly cooperation between the two countries have been continuously developing, with frequent exchanges at the high-level. President Xi Jinping has underscored that China and Nepal, as close neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, share a deep-rooted friendship. Both countries share extensive common interests in international and regional affairs. China remains steadfast in strengthening multilateral cooperation and safeguarding the shared interests of both countries and other developing nations, with the goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity. Amid a backdrop of economic globalization, the increasingly prominent role of law is essential. A robust and equitable legal framework is the cornerstone of ensuring the seamless conduct of international trade. The current seminar, guided by the principle of fostering a community with a shared future for mankind, is dedicated to disseminating insights into China's trade and investment landscape as well as the establishment of a legal system. It endeavors to offer a reference for Nepal's formulation of investment and trade policies and legal frameworks, thereby catalyzing the mutual prosperity of both nations.
Wu Zhong remarked that since the inception of diplomatic ties, China and Nepal have consistently upheld mutual respect and equality, fostering unity and collaborative support, and have become a paragon of amicable cooperation between nations with distinct social systems and sizes. Efforts to enhance Nepal’s trade and investment legal framework are reinvigorating the nation’s economic growth and promoting stable biliteral and multilateral trade relations. Wu expressed hope this seminar would serve as a remarkable platform to foster in-depth exchanges and cooperation across economic and trade sectors, providing new opportunities to elevate the well-being of both peoples.
Lin Shuyua highlighted that under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Nepal have engaged in extensive collaborations across various domains, yielding fruitful outcomes. The Silk Road E-commerce is a crucial measure to deepen cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative, boasting vast potential in Sino-Nepalese economic and trade cooperation, and bearing significant importance for the establishment of Silk Road E-commerce cooperation pilot zone. The Shanghai Pudong International Chamber of Commerce has undertaken key initiatives such as a cooperative research and training center and the overseas warehouse service alliance, aimed at amplifying Pudong's influence in trade with "Silk Road E-commerce" partner countries. Nepal is cordially invited to engage in the "Silk Road E-commerce" endeavors.
Chiranjivi Pokharel, Senior Research Director (Deputy Ministerial Level) of the Nepal Academy, expressed gratitude to China’s Ministry of Commerce for the invitation, and registered his appreciation for Shanghai Business School and Shanghai Pudong International Chamber of Commerce in organizing this well-structured training seminar. He emphasized that the Nepalese government’s dedication to augmenting the capabilities of the public sector and its steadfast commitment to cultivating a favorable investment milieu through legal reforms. Given the enduring amicable ties that bind the two nations, Nepal anticipates harnessing insights from China's developmental strides to bolster and intensify bilateral collaboration.
The 10-day Seminar on Trade and Investment Law for Nepal involves 29 officials, comprising one at the ministerial-level official, 24 at the director-general level, and four at the division-level. Participants hail from institutions such as the Nepal Academy, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Health and Population, Supreme Court, and Office of the Auditor General. This program also features a study tour to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
Written by: Ma Yizhou
Photos by: Li Zheng
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
