Toward consolidation and enhanced cooperation: President Xi’s visit successfully concludes

KATHMANDU, Oct 13: Nepal-China relations have taken a stride toward consolidation and enhanced cooperation between the two. The highest level state visit after 23 years is being seen as pragmatic which led to a successful conclusion.

President Xi was given a grand welcome and he thanked the people of Nepal for their hospitality during his state banquet speech held in Soaltee Crown Plaza Hotel in Kathmandu. The hotel was also the main venue for the signing ceremony and official parleys between various leaders who the Chinese premier had a one-to-one discussion with.

A total of 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have been signed in the presence of both the President of China Xi Jinping and Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli. The agreements were exchanged by the Foreign Ministers Pradeep Gyawali for Nepal and Wang Yi from China.

The MoU covers a wide array of investment and cooperation in the field of health, education, water supply, climate mitigation, connectivity, exports, transit, and establishing sister-city relations. Nepal has assured China of supporting its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its one-China policy. President Xi has also assured to support for VisitNepal2020.

Further, this visit has enabled closer ties between the two nations, and both are hopeful for a progressive future. Earlier the President of China also said that Nepal will not be land-linked hinting on more connectivity and transit hubs enabling economic transformation between the two nations.

President Xi will now meet Prime Minister Oli for 15 minutes and leave for the airport concluding his visit. The visit of the Chinese premier has heightened Nepal-China relations, bilateral cooperation, strengthened mechanism of trust and increased partnership for mutually beneficial projects. China is keen and has expressed its desire for the personal growth and development of the people of Nepal.