Foreign Minister Returns Home, China Visit Productive In Further Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Kathmandu, June 18: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, returned home on Wednesday evening, concluding his four-day official visit to the People's Republic of China.

The Minister paid a visit to the northern neighbour from June 14 to 17 at the cordial invitation of Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

The Minister and his Chinese counterpart held a bilateral meeting on Monday, June 15, focusing on deeper and productive discussions on all aspects of Nepal-China bilateral relations, according to the press statement issued by the Ministry on Wednesday.

"Two sides were univocal on further strengthening Nepal-China relations based on mutual friendship, goodwill, and cooperation. Reaffirming Nepal's commitment to the one-China policy, the Nepali side made it clear that Nepal's territory will not be allowed to be used against China's interests," the statement reads.

The Chinese side, reiterating its continued support to Nepal's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence, expressed full support to the priorities set by the Government of Nepal in the areas of good governance and economic development.

The meeting reiterated commitments to mutual respect, each other's priorities, and sensitivity. Both sides exchanged views on expanding support and cooperation in various areas such as infrastructure, connectivity, border management, energy, trade, investment, agriculture, technology transfer, information technology and digitalization, tourism, management and supply of chemical fertilizer, and petroleum products, natural gas exploration and the people-to-people relations.

Similarly, pledging the prompt implementation of bilateral plans and programmes agreed upon in the past, the meeting stressed the need for enhanced bilateral cooperation in regard to shared interests in the multilateral and regional forums. Following the meeting, Minister Khanal attended a dinner reception hosted by his Chinese counterpart.

Prior to this, earlier on the same day, Minister Khanal met with Liu Haixing, Chief of the International Department of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China (CNP). During the meeting, they exchanged views on strengthening the Nepal-China relations and expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation. They also discussed the exploration of potential relations and collaboration among the parties.

During the visit, Minister Khanal held a meeting on Tuesday, June 16, with Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Huning. On the occasion, the discussions focused on further strengthening Nepal –China relations, which are cordial, friendly and based on cooperation, and promoting collaboration in the areas of priorities, according to the press statement.

Same day in the evening, the Minister participated in the Investment Conference organised by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing. The conference aimed at promoting the Chinese investment in Nepal. He held interactions with the Chinese business community, industrialists, and investors. On the occasion, a representative from the Nepal Investment Board gave the presentation, and it was followed by comprehensive discussions among the participants.

Addressing the event, the Minister called on the Chinese investors to explore opportunities in Nepal, and contribute to building a chapter of mutual economic growth and prosperity.

Shedding light on existing economic potentials and demographic viability in Nepal, he said the Government of Nepal is fully committed to creating an investment and enterprises-friendly atmosphere.

The Minister also attended a reception hosted by the Nepali Embassy and held meetings and interactions with representatives of Nepali communities in China. Apprising them of the government's priorities for the institutionalization of good governance, economic development, he called on them all to actively contribute to the 'campaign' for nation-building.

Similarly, while taking updates on the Embassy's affairs, the Minister directed Embassy officials to practice economic and development diplomacy in a manner that further strengthens Nepal-China relations and ensures delivery of services while protecting the interests of Nepali communities in China.

Likewise, during his separate meetings with Nepali, Chinese and International media held at the Embassy, the Minister delivered views on Nepal's foreign policies, Nepal-China relations, the priorities of the newly formed government in Nepal, and Nepal's engagement with the international community.

According to the Ministry, the Minister visited the White Stupa at Beijing's Miaoying Temple. The heritage designed by Nepal's national luminary Araniko serves as a symbol of longstanding multi-dimensional cultural and people-to-people relations between Nepal and China. It is also considered an example of Nepal's historic soft power, international recognistion of Nepali artists and Nepali sculpture.

The Minister visited the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. On the occasion, he interacted with senior officials from the organisation, underlining the need for deepening the Nepal-China collaborations, making it further productive.

He also observed the China's first high-tech Zhongguancun Science Park remaining as the 'national innovation demonstration zone' in China.

Besides these, the visit is believed to have contributed to securing the Nepal government's goals of expanding independent, practical and supportive relations with all nations and promoting economic and development diplomacy.

Overall, the Minister's visit to China, along with his engagements in high-level meetings and other programmes, was highly productive, contributing significantly to further consolidating Nepal-China friendly and multi-dimensional relations and advancing matters of mutual interests, the Ministry said.

Besides this, the visit is believed to have contributed to achieving the Nepal government's goals of expanding independent, practical and cooperative relations with all nations, as well as promoting economic and development diplomacy.

The Minister's entourage included officials from the Ministry and the Nepali Embassy in Beijing.