Chinese delegation calls on PM Dahal

Kathmandu- A delegation led by Communist Party of China’s Secretary of Tibet, Wang Junzheng, today paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. In the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence, matters relating to bilateral cooperation and mutual concerns were discussed.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister said trans-Himalayan Connectivity Network is significant for both countries, stressing the need for its implementation, according to the Prime Minister’s press expert Manahari Timilsina. Similarly, the Prime Minister expressed his hope for the operation of direct flights from Sichuan Province to Nepal’s Pokharal International Regional Airport built with the support of the Chinese government.

He apprised the Chinese delegation that Nepal intends to make climate change consequences as a primary agenda in the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 12 this year in the United Arab Emirates. He urged China to support Nepal’s climate change agenda on the global stage.

The PM also thanked the Chinese government for its initiatives to regularize the Nepal-China transit points, hoping for more support towards the smooth operations of such points in the days to come. Acknowledging the emergency assistance that Nepal received from China for the recent earthquake in the Karnali Province, the Prime Minister said, “Nepal expects the cooperation from the Chinese government to develop the earthquake pre-information mechanism in Nepal”. He also thanked the northern neighbor for its readiness to operate the Lhasa-Kathmandu direct flight.

PM Dahal reiterated that the ‘one China’ policy is Nepal’s national policy. During the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal commended the economic progress made by China under President Xi Jinping’s leadership and stated that the Belt and Road Initiative is his long-term initiation. The PM also on the occasion expressed sorrow over the passing away of China’s former Premier Li Keqiang. The Chinese side informed PM Dahal that works remained to be completed on one terminal at the Lhasa Airport and the Lhasa-Kathmandu flights would be operated immediately after its completion.

Similarly, Secretary Junzheng said that China wanted to work together with Nepal in the infrastructure, Nepal-China connectivity, economic development and tourism sectors in Nepal. Stating that promotion of people-to-people ties is the priority of Nepal, he said the exchange of visits between the two countries at different levels proved this. On the occasion, Secretary Junzheng expressed deep sorrow on behalf the Chinese government over the death of many people in the recent earthquake that struck Jajarkot and said that China was ready to extend additional relief support to the earthquake victims.

He thanked Nepal for the ‘one China’ policy that it has been espousing since long, said the PM’s press expert Timilsina. The PM Secretariat stated that discussions were also held during the meeting on implementing the agreements reached before this with China. Foreign affairs advisor to the PM, Rupak Sapkota, the Prime Minister’s press advisor Govinda Acharya, among other officials were present in the meeting. Ambassador of China to Nepal, Chen Song and the members of the delegation were also present on the occasion.