Are BRI Projects Headed For Execution?

Following an agreement on the Framework for Belt and Road Cooperation (BRI) between Nepal and China during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to the northern neighbour, the possibility of implementing BRI projects have increased. But some formidable challenges involving internal and geopolitical hostility still persist before they enter into a full-fledged operation. The BRI Framework accord has touched upon the investment modality, albeit using ambiguous words. According to the briefing of Nepali foreign ministry’s officials in Beijing last Wednesday, the two nations finally decided to use the terms ‘technical support and aid financing modality’ to execute at least 10 projects under the BRI framework. Two projects have been added to the eight ventures BRI finalised earlier.