Nepal Army–PLA Relations Continue to Deepen: Army Chief Sigdel
Dragon Media News Desk
Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel has said that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has played an important role in advancing Nepal–China relations based on the principles of Panchsheel.
Addressing a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday to mark the 99th anniversary of the founding of the PLA, Sigdel said relations between the Nepal Army and the Chinese military were strong and continuing to deepen.
He said regular high-level visits and exchanges between the two armies had elevated bilateral military relations to a new level.
Joint military exercises had further strengthened mutual trust, understanding and practical cooperation between the two sides, he added.
Sigdel expressed confidence that cooperation between the Nepal Army and the PLA would continue to expand and contribute to further strengthening the broader friendship between Nepal and China.
Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming said the PLA had made important contributions to China’s national independence, liberation, sovereignty, security and development over the past 99 years.
He said the PLA’s modernization had advanced significantly alongside rapid developments in science and technology and that the modern Chinese military was also making a positive contribution to global peace and stability.
Ambassador Zhang said China had actively participated in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and United Nations peacekeeping operations.
He noted that China was the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops and police personnel among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, while Nepal was also among the world’s leading contributors to UN peacekeeping missions.
Zhang said Nepal–China relations were founded on long-standing friendship, mutual respect, equality and respect for each other’s core concerns.
He expressed confidence that practical cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries would continue to grow stronger in the coming years.
Senior Colonel Zhou Jun of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army said the PLA was continuing to modernize in line with the requirements of the new era.
He said the Chinese military remained committed to safeguarding China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests.
Noting that China attached great importance to military relations with Nepal, Zhou expressed confidence that cooperation would expand further through high-level visits, joint military exercises and other areas of mutual interest.
The reception was attended by senior government officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, chiefs of security agencies, serving and retired Nepal Army officers, and distinguished figures from various sectors.
