Kathmandu, March 21 -- Speaking in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the immediate-past finance minister, Prakash Sharan Mahat, expressed serious reservations over Nepal's preparations to potentially sign the implementation plan of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China.

Although the government is yet to officially decide to sign the plan, which outlines the funding modality and project clusters, there are strong indications that it will be a focal point of discussion during Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shreshta's visit to China starting Sunday. The government has reportedly not held any consultations on the BRI implementation plan among major parties.

At the invitation of his Chine...