Chinese team calls on Speaker Mahara

KATHMANDU, Sept 8: Mr. Wu Yingjie, Secretary General of the CPC (Communist Party of China) Party Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has called on Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament, Mr. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, in Lhasa on Friday evening.

During the meeting, Mr. Wu Yingjie congratulated the Speaker for being elected to the post.

He also expressed his appreciation to Nepal for sending a high level delegation led by the Speaker to the Fourth China-Tibet international Tourism and Culture Expo 2018.

Mr. Wu mentioned that China and Nepal have been enjoying very cordial relations and recalled the exchange of high level visits, including the visits by the President of Nepal, Prime Ministers of Nepal and other high level dignitaries in the recent years to China, including Tibet.

He noted that China’s Tibet and Nepal share similar culture, geography and religion and thanked Nepal for supporting One-China Policy.

The TAR CPC Secretary General mentioned that the Chinese development model has kept people at the centre and highlighted the importance attached to poverty alleviation in China as well as the success of such programs. He added that the central government of China, including Mr. Xi Jinping, the President of China, has paid great attention to the development of Tibet.

Mr. Wu Yingjie also told that the TAR Government will provide help to increase tourism and foreign investment in Nepal.

In the meeting, Speaker Mahara thanked the TAR Government for the invitation and warm hospitality and excellent arrangements made for him and his delegation.
While recalling that he had attended the Opening Ceremony of the Third China-Tibet Tourism and Culture Expo in 2016, he expressed his happiness to be in TAR again for the fourth Expo as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Nepal.

He mentioned the cordial relations existing between Nepal and China, and the importance of TAR as providing solid foundations for this relationship based on family relations, social, cultural, religious and geographical links and similarities with Nepal.

The Federal Parliament Speaker noted that Nepal and China have adhered to the five principles of peaceful coexistence or the principles of Panchasheel in their bilateral relations. He reiterated the support of Nepal to One-China Policy.
Noting that China has achieved tremendous socio-economic development, Speaker remarked that Nepal hopes to get the benefits.

In light of the fact that China has put forward the visionary Belt and Road Initiative to bring the benefits of development to the wider region of the world including its neighborhood and the fact that Nepal has joined this initiative, he hoped that necessary infrastructures would be built to further increase connectivity between Nepal and China, and to promote trade, tourism and other interactions for the benefit of both countries.

He also added that Nepal has overcome long political transition by promulgating a new constitution based on federal system, by successfully holding elections to the three tiers of government envisioned by the new constitution and forming new governments. This has created conducive environment for foreign investment in Nepal and Speaker urged the Government of TAR and China to increase investment in Nepal as the situation now is conducive for foreign investment in Nepal.

He also extended an invitation to Mr. Wu Yingjie to visit Nepal in convenient time in the future.

Speaker observes Consulate General
Meantime, Speaker Mahara, who is currently on a visit to the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China to participate in the China-Tibet Tourism and Culture Expo, observed the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa on Friday evening.

On the occasion, Consul General Gobinda Bahadur Karkee welcomed the Speaker and his delegation, and briefed it on the condition of the Consulate General and the Nepal-Tibet trade policy and possibilities.

Speaker Mahara opined that Nepal could take much benefit from trade with Tibet which adjoins Nepal. The Speaker is scheduled to inaugurate the Nepalese Consulate General in Lhasa on Sunday. RSS