In message to Poudel, president calls for enhanced cooperation with Nepal

President Xi Jinping and Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel exchanged congratulations on Aug 1 on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with both leaders pledging to boost the countries’ partnership.

In his congratulatory message to Poudel, Xi noted that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers, with a long history of friendly exchanges.

Over the 70 years, the two countries have always upheld mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation, no matter how the international and regional landscapes evolve, setting an example for friendly coexistence between countries with different social systems and of different sizes, he said.

Xi noted that in recent years, China-Nepal relations have developed in a healthy and steady manner, with their political mutual trust continuously enhanced and cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road, as well as partnership in various fields, expanding.

Saying that he highly values the development of China-Nepal ties, Xi emphasized that he is willing to work with Poudel to take the 70th anniversary as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, in order to promote bilateral ties to better benefit the two peoples and contribute to regional peace and development.

Poudel said that over the past 70 years, Nepal-China friendship has stood the test of time. He described China as a trustworthy neighbor and development partner, and expressed appreciation for Beijing’s long-term support for Nepal’s development and its respect for Nepal’s sovereignty and independence.

Nepal firmly adheres to the one-China principle and looks forward to joining hands with China to further deepen cooperation in various fields and realize the common vision of peace, progress and prosperity, Poudel said.

Also on Aug 1, Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on the 70th anniversary, with both affirming their commitment to promoting bilateral ties.

Nepalese officials and community leaders said that Nepal and China, through seven decades of friendly relations fostered through cultural exchanges, economic cooperation and high-level dialogues, have further consolidated their “trans-Himalayan” partnership.

Such an achievement will inject new impetus into building a community with a shared future for humanity for both countries, they said.

Amid the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a series of events were held in Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital, to mark the occasion. The events included a reception organized on Aug 1 by the Chinese embassy, and a painting exhibition featuring hundreds of works by more than 60 Chinese and Nepalese artists that opened on Aug 2.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Oli said at the reception that his country values its “time-tested friendship” with China, a close neighbor and a trustworthy development partner.

The Nepal-China relationship, which is grounded in mutual trust and guided by shared values, has grown stronger over the past 70 years, he said.

Nepal looks forward to further developing bilateral ties with China by expanding cooperation, deepening connections and creating new paths for mutual benefit, he added.

Harish Chandra Shah, president of the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council, said the two countries have shared a long history of friendly relations since ancient times and are great neighbors bound by close cultural, social, religious and political links.

“Nepal and China have enjoyed very cordial relations, mutual trust, exchanges and cooperation for a long time. China’s willingness to support Nepal through difficult periods is well appreciated by the people and government of Nepal,” Shah said, adding: “The 70th anniversary is not only a review of history, but also a starting point for future cooperation.”

China is a major investor in Nepal, Shah noted, adding that both sides share a strong cultural and educational relationship fostered through various initiatives and agreements.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song said at the reception that China is ready “to strengthen high-level exchanges with Nepal, deepen political mutual trust and firmly support each other’s core interests on the global stage”.

Beijing is also ready to assist Nepal in addressing its development challenges with Chinese solutions, Chen said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

Contact the reporters at caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn