China, Nepal agree to cooperate more on Belt and Road initiative

Beijing and Kathmandu agreed to cooperate more in jointly building the Belt and Road initiative during Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday.

During the meeting, Xi said friendly ties between China and Nepal are in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, reports Xinhua.

At present, China-Nepal ties are developing soundly and the two countries maintain close exchanges between governments, parties and other levels, Xi added.

The Chinese President called on the two sides to strengthen political trust, have more close exchanges and support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns.

Both sides are expected to promote cooperation in connectivity, free trade arrangements, agriculture, industrial capacity, energy and post-disaster reconstruction, taking advantage of the opportunity provided by jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said.

He said that China and Nepal need to expand two-way investment and trade and promote balanced and sustainable development of bilateral trade.

Calling China a friendly neighbor, Dahal said Nepal appreciates China's long-time support, especially its help after Nepal's earthquake in 2015.

Nepal adheres to the one-China policy and it will not allow any force to conduct anti-China activities in Nepal's territory, Dahal said, adding that Nepal supports China's Belt and Road and that it is willing to work with China to cooperate more in trade, investment, transportation, infrastructure, tourism, aviation and people-to-people exchanges to benefit the two peoples.