Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping today said that China will assist Nepal in transforming it from a landlocked country to land-linked country.
“China is also ready to open as many as trade transit routes with Nepal,” he said, adding that Chinese support will increase in post-quake reconstruction as well. Pledging to increase investment in the education sector of Nepal, encourage as many as Chinese nationals to promote Visit Nepal Year 2020 and address Nepal's concerns about climate change aside from promising to safeguarding common planet earth and maintaining ecology around the Sagarmatha region, he also expressed the determination to realise the projects and framework designed for development construction.
President Xi also said he was looking forward to discussing and exchanging views on matters of mutual interest and common concern with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tomorrow.
Delivering a statement in a state banquet organised today evening in honour of visiting Chinese President Xi, President Bidya Devi Bhandari said that Nepal-China relation is deep as ocean and high as the Mt Everest. “There are immense possibilities of taking warm and friendly relations between Nepal and China based on Panchasheel to a new height,” she said, adding that our relations based on mutual understanding, respect and well-being is close, strong and free of any problems.
Recalling that relations between Nepal and China have been connected through rivers and mountains, while there is social and cultural connection between the two countries since centuries, she also highlighted the significant contribution of Chinese monks— Fa Xian (Fa Hsien) and Xuan Zang (Hsuan Tsang) – and Nepali monk Buddha Bhadra, princess Bhrikuti and artist Araniko to further strengthen people's level cultural relations between the two countries.
The high profile visit from northern neighbour after 23 year since then president Jiang Zemin visited in 1996, also witnessed assistance to Nepal.
The visiting Chinese President, on the occasion, announced a support of 3.5 billion RMB to be provided between 2020 to 2022 for uplifting the living standard of the Nepali people. He also announced that work on trans-himalaya railways would move ahead despite its difficulties. The Chinese President – who is the most powerful president after chairman Mao in China – also said that the trade imbalance between the two countries could be addressed, if Nepal exports competitive goods. Stating that he was encouraging big and quality investments from China, President Xi said support could be sought from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as well.
President Xi – on the occasion – also signed the visitors' book.
President Xi arrived in Kathmandu this afternoon on a two-day state visit, at the friendly invitation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
President Bhandari, on the occasion, said that the agreements and treaties signed with China have built a foundation for Nepal's easy access to the third world countries. During the high-level bilateral talks held at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas after welcoming her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, President Bhandari said Nepal is now striving to realise the national goal of prosperous Nepal and Happy Nepalis following the establishment of a stable government.
Stating that the government is working to transform Nepal into a middle-income country by 2030, she said the government was ever ready to facilitate and safeguard Chinese investments in Nepal.
Extending gratitude for the post-quake support in Nepal, President Bhandari said Nepal was looking forward to receiving Chinese tourists during the Visit Nepal Year 2020 and support for human resource development in the country.
