Nepal, China reassure commitment to enhance bilateral relations in various sectors

Nepal and China have held talks on a range of issues and the two countries have agreed to boost their bilateral ties in areas of infrastructure development, trade, investment and energy.

Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi called on China's State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in Beijing on Thursday and they reviewed the status of bilateral cooperation, said a statement issued by Nepal's embassy in Beijing.

The two sides held substantive and fruitful discussions on the entire gamut of Nepal-China relations, a Nepalese media report said.

"Both sides underlined the need to further enhance bilateral relations through close and productive engagements in areas of mutual interest, including connectivity, infrastructure development, trade, investment and energy." the embassy statement said.

Following the foreign secretary's meeting with Wang, the 12th Nepal-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting was also held, it said.

Bairagi and Kong Xuanyou, Vice Foreign Minister of China led their respective delegations during the meeting.

The two sides agreed to expedite the implementation of past agreements and prioritise projects under bilateral cooperation, the statement said.

They also highlighted the importance of exchanging high-level visits for leveraging the momentum in bilateral relations for mutual benefit.

China has been investing heavily in Nepal in the last few years to enhance the connectivity and infrastructure.

In June, China and Nepal signed eight agreements for developing major infrastructure projects in the land-locked Himalayan nation to further deepen bilateral ties.

Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, during his brief tenure in 2016 widened China-Nepal ties by signing the transit trade treaty with China to reduce the dependence of his land-locked country on India at the height of Madhesis agitation.

He sought the expansion of road links through Tibet besides extension of China's railway to Nepal through the Himalayas.

(With inputs from agencies.)