President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli in Beijing on Tuesday. Xi appreciated Oli's long-term and firm commitment to China-Nepal friendship, pointing out that China and Nepal are good neighbors, good friends and good partners connected by mountains and rivers.
The two countries have always treated each other with sincerity, mutual respect and support, and bilateral relations have maintained sound and steady development, he said.
Noting that next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Nepal diplomatic relations, Xi said China places the bilateral ties at an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is willing to work with the Nepali side to stay true to the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, consolidate traditional friendship, and promote new and greater development of the China-Nepal strategic cooperative partnership featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity. Xi stressed that China respects Nepal's choice of a development path that suits its national conditions, supports Nepal in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is willing to continuously consolidate strategic mutual trust with the Nepali side and firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests.
The trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network is turning from a vision into a reality, Xi said, adding that China is willing to further deepen practical cooperation with Nepal, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen cooperation in port, transportation, power grid, telecommunications to help Nepal accelerate its transformation from a "land-locked country" to a "land-connected country," continue to support Nepal's economic and social development within its capacity, and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Nepal.
China supports Nepal's declaration in China to designate 2025 as a "Nepal Special Tourism Year" and welcomes Nepalese friends to do business, travel and study in China, Xi said.
China is also willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Nepal at the United Nations and other multilateral institutions to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, the Chinese president added.
Hailing China's tremendous development achievements as a miracle in the history of human progress, Oli said Nepal, as a friend of China, is very proud of and encouraged by the achievements, and hopes to learn from China's successful experience and achieve its own development and prosperity.
There is only friendship, not problems, between Nepal and China, and relations between the two countries are based on friendship, equality and respect, said the Nepalese prime minister.
Nepal is grateful to China for its all kinds of invaluable support, including efforts to help it transform from a "land-locked country" to a "land-connected country," Oli said, adding that his country is willing to continue to actively participate in Belt and Road cooperation, welcome investment from Chinese enterprises, and deepen practical cooperation in various fields with China.
Both Xizang and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China's territory, and the Nepali side firmly adheres to the one-China principle, will not allow any force to engage in anti-China activities or undermine China's interests in Nepal, and opposes any foreign interference in China's internal affairs, said Oli.
China has proposed a series of important initiatives, such as the Global Development Initiative, which are conducive to humankind's joint response to the current complex international situation and global challenges, Oli said, expressing Nepal's willingness to strengthen multilateral collaboration with China to safeguard the common interests of the Global South.
The two sides issued a joint statement during the meeting.
Xi meets Nepali prime minister in Beijing
Xi meets Nepali prime minister in Beijing
Xi meets Nepali prime minister in Beijing
