China and Nepal have pledged to deepen their friendship, explore closer cooperation, and continue to firmly support each other in safeguarding their core interests.

While meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kathmandu on Sunday, Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari said that Nepal and China have enjoyed a profound friendship, and that they are good neighbors and good friends.

Nepal is pleased to see that China has made great achievements in its development and Nepal has benefited a lot from China's development, the Nepali president said.

Wang said China stands ready to work with the Nepali side to deepen bilateral friendship, and continue to firmly support each other in safeguarding their core interests.

Bhandari said her country never approves the slanders by certain international forces against both China and the Communist Party of China, and wishes and firmly believes that China's path and the China model will achieve greater success.

Wang said the Chinese side is happy to see that friendship with China has become a social consensus going beyond parties and different party factions in Nepal.

The Chinese side is willing to strengthen exchanges with Nepal's political parties and different party factions on state governance experience, and join hands to push forward the cause of promoting democracy and human rights for mankind, Wang said.

During talks on Saturday, Wang and Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba agreed that both sides would make good use of the Nepal-China Joint Consultation Mechanism to complete existing key cooperation projects and explore new areas of cooperation.

Noting that China-Nepal cooperation enjoys vast potential, both sides agreed that deepening practical cooperation not only meets the needs of both countries, but will also inject strong impetus to regional development and prosperity.

Deuba stressed that Nepal will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy and will never allow any forces to use the Nepali territory to engage in anti-China activities.

Wang said China appreciated that and is ready to continue standing firmly with Nepal on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. 

China will work with Nepal to safeguard the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the basic norms governing international relations, resist unilateralism and oppose power politics, and contribute to regional peace and stability, Wang said. 

After the meeting, both sides attended the completion ceremony of Pokhara International Airport via video link.

Also on Saturday, Wang held talks with Nepali Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka, saying that China will stick to its friendly policy toward Nepal and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with the South Asian country. 

Wang stressed that China will unswervingly implement friendly policies toward Nepal, while deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, no matter how the international and domestic situations of the two countries change.

The Chinese diplomat also voiced support for Nepal to pursue independent domestic and foreign policies. China always believes that all countries are equal regardless of their size, and respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries, Wang said. 

In addition, he said China supports Nepal in participating more actively in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), mentioning the fruitful results seen in cooperation in electricity, economy and people-to-people exchanges.