Xi hopeful Nepal and China can draw a new blueprint for bilateral ties

KATHMANDU, Oct 11: Chinese President Xi Jinping has said he is hopeful Nepal and China can together draw up a new blueprint for bilateral ties.

Xi is scheduled to pay his first official visit to Nepal on Oct 12-13, ending a hiatus of 23 years, at the invitation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

“I will soon pay a state visit to Nepal, a friendly neighbor of China, at the invitation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari. The visit will be my first, yet the country is no strange place to me. I have long wanted to come to Nepal and see for myself its majestic mountains and rivers and unique culture. I have also met in China visiting Nepali leaders on many occasions and developed with them a deep friendship. I now very much look forward to stepping on this wonderful land to renew friendship and explore cooperation with my Nepali friends. I hope we can together draw up a new blueprint for our bilateral ties,” said the Chinese President in his article entitled “Toward Greater Progress of China-Nepal Friendship across the Himalayas” published in the Rising Nepal on Friday.

“Since China and Nepal established diplomatic relations in 1955, our two countries have respected each other and trusted and supported each other, setting an example of equality, friendship, and mutually beneficial cooperation between neighboring countries,” he wrote.

According to him Nepal and China are good friends who share mutual respect and trust.

“Following the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, we have successfully demarcated our boundaries, turning the great Himalayas into a real bond between our two countries. We support each other on issues of our respective core interests. Nepal stands firm in upholding the one-China policy and prohibits any force from using its territory for anti-China activities. China firmly supports Nepal in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and in pursuing a development path tailored to its national reality,” he said in the article.

According to him, Nepal has been an active participant in the Belt and Road cooperation and is working with China on a number of infrastructure projects to build or upgrade highways, ports, airports and power plants. A trans-Himalayan connectivity network is thus taking shape, which will serve not just our two countries but also the region as a whole.

He said Nepal and China should step up cooperation to deepen strategic communication, broaden practical cooperation, expand people to people exchanges and enhance security concerns.

“It is important that we adopt a strategic and long-term perspective and draw up a blueprint for our bilateral relationship to take it to a new height in this new era. We need to maintain high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, and continue to render mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests. We may also have more exchanges and experience sharing on governance and development to deliver greater benefits to our two peoples,” he said.

“We need to make greater efforts to develop a Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network across the Himalayas. China supports Chinese business investment in Nepal in the four priority cooperation areas of trade and investment, post-disaster reconstruction, energy, and tourism. China welcomes Nepal’s participation in the second China International Import Expo to promote exports of its specialty products to China. What’s more, China will continue to support post-disaster reconstruction and do what it can to support and assist the betterment of people’s lives in Nepal.”

“It is important that we encourage more exchanges and cooperation in such areas as education, youth and tourism, and support our airlines in opening more direct flights to increase mutual visits. China supports Nepal in hosting “Visit Nepal Year 2020”, and will encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Nepal. China will give more government scholarships to outstanding young Nepali and help train more professionals needed in Nepal’s development endeavor. China welcomes more Nepali students to China.”

“China supports Nepal in building law-enforcement capacity and will carry out law-enforcement training cooperation with Nepal. We need to scale up border defense contacts to fight transnational crimes more effectively and ensure the safety of our nationals and the smooth flow of trade. We also need to strengthen practical cooperation in mil-to-mil visits, personnel training, and equipment and technologies.”

Xi said Nepal and China will take their friendship to a new height as long as our two countries carry forward our tradition of friendship and keep increasing our exchanges and cooperation.

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