Nepal eager to have trilateral ties with India and China: Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'

Prachanda, told that he is keen to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is expected to visit Nepal in a couple of months

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Nepal wants to develop trilateral relations with its two big neighbours - India and China, the country's new Prime Minister Prachanda said on Monday.

Prime Minister and CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Prachanda, during a meeting with delegates from China Institute of Contemporary Relations at the Prime Minister's official residence here told them that he was "keen to welcome the Chinese President Xi Jinping," who is expected to visit Nepal in a couple of months.

"Nepal wants to develop a reliable and long lasting friendship with the northern neighbour," Prachanda said, adding "he wants to develop trilateral relations with the two big neighbours India and China".

The delegates from the state-run Chinese think-tank told Prachanda that "China wanted to establish a constructive and sustainable relations with Nepal," according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office.

They also expressed desire to exchange experience and knowledge regarding the post-earthquake construction, to extend cooperation and to help Nepal in mega projects.

The delegation also asked the Government of Nepal to build infrastructure to bring in more Chinese tourists in Nepal, the statement said.

The 61-year-old Prachanda was elected Prime Minister on Wednesday for the second time after his brief stint with premiership came to an end in 2009.

He was Prime Minister from 2008 to 2009 before a disagreement with the President over his attempt to sack the army chief brought his period in office to an early end.