China visit further strengthened climate of mutual confidence between two countries: PM

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said his official visit to China has further strengthened the climate of mutual confidence between the two countries.

Informing the meeting of the House of Representatives about his participation in the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and the official visit to China today, PM Dahal asserted that the visit to China has played a key role in further strengthening the historical relations subsisting between the two countries.

“My latest visit to China is the first high-level visit from Nepal after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Nepal in 2019. My visit has consolidated the climate of mutual trust between Nepal and China in the context of such high-level visits not taking for long due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The head of the government said that his discussions with the Chinese President and the Prime Minister during the visit have helped take the Nepal-China ties to further heights.

“During the delegation-level talks and discussions held with the Chinese President and the Prime Minister, they said that China fully supported the views I put that our relations should be centred towards increasing the trade, investment, inter-country transport network and the economic and social partnership with China,” PM Dahal recalled.

He informed the House that during the high-level meetings with Chinese leaders, discussions were held on construction of transmission lines in the northern border region, on installation of solar power in places in the border area where electricity cannot be reached through the central transmission line and on construction of various roads and their upgrading.

Similarly, he said discussions were held on expanding cooperation in health and agriculture sectors, reopening of border transit points and the traditional border crossing points that were shut after COVID-19 pandemic, on construction of infrastructures towards Nepal side at the border transit points and on construction of advanced laboratories.

The PM stated that extensive discussions were also held on operating direct flights from China to Pokhara International Airport to deepen the Nepal-China people-level ties, on collaboration in the science and technology sectors and on expanding bilateral trade.

“Discussions were held on the works both sides needed to carry out towards taking the bilateral relations to a new high in the context of Nepal always remaining committed to the one-China principle and the Nepal-China ties being based on the panchasheel (the five principles of peaceful co-existence), cordial friendship, mutual cooperation and respect, international norms and values and law,” he further said.

The Prime Minister said that he had the opportunity to attend the inauguration ceremony of the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou of China in course of his visit to the northern neighbour and to motivate the Nepali players. The Asiad was inaugurated by the Chinese President in the presence of the Head of State and Government of various nations.