Kathmandu: Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has said that Nepal supports safeguarding China’s core interests, Xinhua reported on Thursday.
Finance Minister Paudel said this during the meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing on Thursday. According to Xinhua, Ding said Nepal and China are linked by mountains and rivers and have enjoyed lasting friendship, setting a fine example of equality and mutual benefits between countries of different sizes, adding that China is ready to work with Nepal to deepen exchange and cooperation in various fields, build a high-quality Belt and Road, consolidate popular support for the bilateral friendship, and push China-Nepal relations to a higher level.
In the meeting, Paudel reiterated that Nepal abides firmly by the one-China principle and hopes to strengthen its exchange of governance experience with China and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, Xnhua report said.
However, the press statement issued by Embassy of Nepal in Beijing does not mention these as talking points. The statement says that Paudel and Ding agreed to advance projects under Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network, particularly Kathmandu-Kerung railway, cross-border transmission line, Kathmandu-Hile and Hilsa-Simikot roads. They also discussed ways of enhancing cooperation in various sectors including infrastructure, tourism, education, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people relations.
According to Nepal embassy, Paudel also met Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency during which Luo expressed willingness to support Nepal in livelihood and good governance projects, among others.
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