Govt favours grants, not loans, under BRI: Govt spokesperson
KAVREPALANCHOK: Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has stated that the government will not accept loans under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Minister Gurung, who is also the government spokesperson, mentioned that while the government will not take loans, it could sign grant agreements under the BRI during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's upcoming official visit to China.
Addressing a programme marking the first anniversary of 'madanibeat.com', a news portal run from Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchok, he said, "There are differing views on whether to implement the BRI, but the government does not believe the BRI agreement should be executed immediately. Since an MoU has been signed, it should be implemented."
Minister Gurung reiterated that it is not the government's policy to take loans indiscriminately. "We do not take loans from any country, but we do accept grants. If China provides a grant, we will accept it and can reach an agreement on this," he added.
He acknowledged that differences regarding the BRI are not unusual, stating, "Countries that have made well-informed agreements on BRI projects have benefited; these projects have been 'game-changers' in those countries."
The Minister emphasised that the current government is committed to boosting democracy and serving the citizens, focusing on development and construction with a positive mindset.
Minister Gurung highlighted the government's responsibility to resolve inter-ministry misunderstandings regarding some protracted development projects. He noted that the government needs to investigate why capital expenditure has not occurred, despite nearly half of the Rs 300 billion allocated for capital expenditure from the Rs 1.85 trillion budget remaining unused. "We need to assess why capital expenditure has not increased—whether due to policy formulation delays or other reasons. Improvement in our working style is necessary. The state apparatus should be operated systematically, and development and construction should be prioritised," he stressed.
Expressing concern over the prominence of anarchic and indecent content on social media, the Minister urged the media to avoid baseless news. He noted that false news and information have led to family disintegration and called on the media to exercise press freedom responsibly, as unsubstantiated news has led to serious situations, including suicides.
He advised media personnel to adhere to their ethical responsibilities in publishing and broadcasting. The Minister mentioned that discussions have begun in the parliamentary committee regarding the Mass Media Council Bill, as the Press Council is inadequate to regulate the media.
He expressed confidence that the parliament will pass the Bill Related to Use, Operation, and Regulation of Social Sites in its upcoming session, as it has already been presented to the Council of Ministers for approval.
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