Xi: China attaches great importance to the relationship with Nepal

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02:05

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday told his Nepalese counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari that China attaches great importance to the relationship with Nepal.

Bhandari is currently paying a state visit to China, she attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which concluded on Saturday in the Chinese capital. The Nepalese president also attended the opening ceremony of the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition on Sunday.

China supports Nepal's efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and supports Nepal's independent choice of social system and development path suited for its national conditions, President Xi said.

He said China appreciates Nepal's long-term support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns.

The Chinese president noted that China and Nepal should enhance infrastructure cooperation and continue to build the China-Nepal Cross-Border Economic Cooperation Zones

He also called for more efforts to strengthen exchanges between the legislature bodies, political parties, youth, think tank, media and enhance local-level cooperation to push bilateral ties to a higher level.

Bhandari for her side thanked China for its support to Nepal's national transformation and development, saying that Nepal firmly adheres to the one-China policy and will never allow any forces to engage in any anti-China activities on the Nepalese territory.

Hailing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a historical initiative, Bhandari said that the BRI with global influence also provides a good platform for bilateral cooperation.

China's long-term prosperity and stability is also an opportunity for Nepal's development, she added.

Bhandari also stressed that Nepal is willing to deepen bilateral win-win cooperation.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents.