SCO demonstration area promoted in Nepal

KATHMANDU, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A promotion conference was held here on Friday to promote the China-SCO (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) for deeper cooperation with Nepal.

Speaking at the conference, Li Gang, executive deputy director of the Administrative Committee of SCODA, voiced hope that China and Nepal can carry out friendly exchanges in the fields of building road-rail combined transport and creating high-quality cultural and tourism products as 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two neighbors.

Business and tourism professionals from Nepal and China shared their insights and thoughts about areas for better cooperation.

"We have huge potentials to export processed ginger, orange, cardamom, mushrooms and herbs," said Damodar Bhandari, Nepal's minister for industry, commerce and supplies.

"There can be cooperation with China in food safety and transfer of food processing facilities," he added. "We are willing to cooperate on solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, equipment and energy development."

Two cooperation agreements were signed on the occasion to further expand practical cooperation with Nepal on tea trade and cultural and tourism exchanges.■