Minister Deuba clarifies BRI agreement does not include loan provision

She informed a parliamentary committee of efforts to secure the release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who has been held captive by Hamas for over a year.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Arzu Rana Deuba, has reaffirmed that the recent agreement under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) does not involve any loan-related provisions. Answering lawmakers’ queries at a meeting of the parliamentary International Relations and Tourism Committee on Monday, she clarified that the term ‘aid’ in the agreement does not equate to loans.