China hopes for stability in Nepal after Oli steps down

China on Tuesday said that it hopes all parties in Nepal will put national interest first and work for stability, following the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

Oli resigned on Sunday, minutes before parliament was to vote on a no-confidence motion which he was likely to lose.

The no-confidence motion was brought by former Maoist rebels who endorsed Oli, nine months ago, but fell out after accusing him of failing to honor a power-sharing deal.

The Chinese foreign ministry in a statement said that Beijing and Kathmandu's friendship and mutually beneficially cooperation will not change.

"As a neighbour and friend, China genuinely hopes that all parties and sides in Nepal put the national and people's interests first, and dedicate themselves to effecting Nepal's stability and development," the Himalayan Times quoted the statement as saying.

Oli had visited China in March this year, where he signed a deal allowing Nepal to use China's ports for trading goods with third countries.

"China and Nepal have been through thick and thin together, and no matter the changes in the international or domestic situation, the direction of China and Nepal's friendship and mutually beneficially cooperation will not change," the statement added.

Oli's departure puts the Himalayan nation country in a whole new round of political uncertainty already plagued by political turmoil.

This is Nepal's 23rd government to fall since a multi-party democracy that began in 1990 after bloody protests and political tumult.