Nepal-China Relations Focus on Trust and Cooperation

Kathmandu. Minister for Foreign Affairs Shishir Khanal, who is on an official visit to China, has held talks with Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The meeting between Khanal and Wang took place in Beijing on Tuesday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed Nepal-China relations, high-level exchanges, political trust, practical cooperation, development partnership and ways to further strengthen people-to-people ties.

Wang said China is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Nepal, enhance political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation in line with the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries. He stressed that Nepal-China relations should move forward in a way that brings direct benefits to the people of both countries.

Wang also said the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference is willing to make a positive contribution to the development of Nepal-China relations. He underlined the need for joint efforts to make the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two countries more effective.

Foreign Minister Khanal said Nepal-China friendship is based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. He reiterated Nepal’s firm commitment to the One-China policy and made it clear that Nepali territory would not be allowed to be used for any anti-China activities.

Khanal said Nepal is willing to expand cooperation with China to achieve shared goals of development and prosperity. He said cooperation could be advanced in areas such as infrastructure, connectivity, energy, trade, investment, tourism, technology, agriculture and people-to-people relations.

Foreign Minister Khanal arrived in Beijing on an official visit from June 14 to 17 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. During the visit, he also held bilateral talks with Wang Yi. The discussions covered the overall aspects of Nepal-China relations, Belt and Road cooperation, power transmission lines, roads, border points, aviation, investment, trade, and regional and multilateral cooperation.

During the talks, Nepal reaffirmed its commitment to the One-China policy, while China reiterated its support for Nepal’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. Both sides stressed the need to move ahead with the implementation of previously agreed programmes and projects.

Wang Huning is a senior Chinese political leader. He is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. He is known as an influential figure in China’s policy, ideological strategy and political theory.

Foreign Minister Khanal’s visit to China is being viewed as an opportunity to continue high-level dialogue in Nepal-China relations and to move development cooperation forward in a more practical manner.