Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday congratulated Sher Bahadur Deuba on taking office as Nepal's prime minister. 

In his congratulatory message, Li said China and Nepal are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, hailing the two countries' solidarity and mutual help in face of difficulties. 

Li said he stands ready to make joint efforts with Deuba to tackle challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and expand and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields between the two sides. 

The Chinese premier vowed to work with his Nepali counterpart to bring the bilateral Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity to new heights. 

Deuba, president of the Nepali Congress, was appointed the prime minister on July 13 after the Supreme Court directed President Bidya Devi Bhandari to do so in a verdict issued a day earlier, under which the court also reinstated the House of Representatives dissolved by Bhandari on May 22 over the recommendation of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. 

Deuba won a vote of confidence at the House of Representatives on July 18, which will enable him to stay in the position till the next general election slated for November next year. 

(With input from Xinhua) 

(Cover: Nepal's newly appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba addresses the parliament before a vote of confidence, July 18, 2021. /CFP)