Nepal Will Not Allow Its Soil to Be Used Against Any Neighbor: Finance Minister Wagle; Friendship with China a High Priority
Kathmandu — Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has expressed commitment that Nepali soil will not be allowed to be used against any neighbor, stating that the government has given high priority to friendship with China, a trusted development partner.
Speaking at a program titled “Spring Voice: A Journey to Inner Mongolia Through Music” organized by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu on Wednesday evening, Finance Minister Dr. Wagle expressed gratitude for the support received from the Chinese government in Nepal’s socio-economic development. He expressed confidence that the enduring relationship with China will further strengthen in the future and highlighted various aspects of geographical and cultural similarities between China and Nepal. He noted that the cultural richness of Inner Mongolia is significant for bilateral cultural exchange.
Praising China’s support in transforming Nepal-China relations — based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence (Panchsheel) — from landlocked to land-linked, Finance Minister Dr. Wagle said Nepal wishes to learn from the development achieved by China. He also mentioned that the Rastriya Swatantra Party has included in its manifesto the need to learn from China’s prosperity and advance on the path of economic development.
Dr. Wagle stated that China’s support in Nepal’s physical infrastructure — including the ring road and its expansion, the Kerung-Kathmandu road, a feasibility study of a railway line, Madan Bhandari University, and the Civil Hospital — has been unparalleled. He informed that discussions are ongoing with the Chinese side for deeper partnership in mutually beneficial areas such as establishing a Chinese bank in Nepal, agriculture, and tourism. He added that the current active government, with a firm resolve for all-round development, has focused on good governance, the economy, and prosperity.
Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly Lila Kumari Bhandari said Nepal is fully committed to the One-China principle and emphasized the need to take the bilateral relationship based on Panchsheel principles to new heights. She expressed gratitude for the continuous support received from China, a reliable development partner of Nepal, and expressed happiness that the seven-decade-old Nepal-China relationship is becoming more intensive in economic, social, and cultural fields.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming expressed gratitude to the Nepali government and people for China-Nepal friendship and cooperation, stating that he is fascinated by Nepal’s culture and natural beauty. He reiterated his commitment to making the China-Nepal strategic partnership everlasting and expressed China’s desire to further support Nepal’s development efforts through the Belt and Road Initiative. Ambassador Zhang expressed confidence that the recently passed 15th Five-Year Plan of China will be helpful not only for China’s development but also for the progress of neighboring countries. He reaffirmed commitment to implementing past agreements and understandings while striving to further strengthen people-to-people bilateral relations.
On the occasion, artists from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region presented the folk culture, songs, and music of Inner Mongolia. According to Source, the event was attended by cabinet members, former prime ministers, leaders of various political parties, former speakers, heads and officials of diplomatic missions, Chinese citizens working in Nepal, and distinguished members of society.
