Nepal-China relations pragmatic: China

Kathmandu, Aug 17:

China has expressed its willingness to extend all possible cooperation to Nepal, stating that the two neighbours have always developed pragmatic relations.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made this assurance during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara in Beijing on Wednesday.

DPM Mahara is currently on a visit of China as a special envoy of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Chinese Premier Li received DPM Mahara at his office in Zhongnanhai of Beijing Wednesday morning, according to the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing.

During the meeting, Chinese Premier Li expressed his gratitude to DPM Mahara for the invitations extended to Chinese President Xi Jinping and himself for Nepal visit.

 “The ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries would stay in touch for necessary coordination,” said a press statement issued by the Nepalese Embassy in Beijing quoting Premier Li.

During the meeting, DPM Mahara appreciated the government and people of China for their generous support and cooperation in Nepal’s socio-economic development.

On Tuesday, DPM Mahara had handed over the invitation letters from President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to their Chinese counterparts Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang respectively, to Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

Mahara held a meeting with Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang on Tuesday and discussed matters of bilateral cooperation and mutual interests.

During the meeting with the Chinese premier, DPM Mahara was accompanied by joint secretary and head of the North East Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jhabindra Aryal, charge d’affaires of the Nepalese Embassy in China Harish Chandra Ghimire, and other officials of the Nepalese Embassy.