Press Release on the ongoing visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal to China
Posted onApril 18, 2018
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Nepal Hon. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali is on an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from 17-21 April 2018 at the invitation of State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Wang Yi.
Foreign Minister Hon. Gyawali called on Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China H.E. Wang Qishan at Zhongnanhai this morning. He conveyed the greetings and best wishes of Rt. Hon. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, and said that Nepal appreciates President Xi Jinping’s vision of ‘building a community of shared future for humanity,’ and supports China’s thrust on enhancing cooperation among nations under the Belt and Road Initiative.Highlighting the fact that Nepal and China have been enjoying excellent relations based on friendship and good neighborliness since ancient times, Vice-President H.E. Wang Qishan stressed on fully tapping the potentials of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Later this morning, Foreign Minister Hon. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali held official bilateral talks with State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Wang Yi. A joint press meeting was held following the delegation level talks. H.E. Wang Yi hosted a luncheon in honor of Hon. Gyawali.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of bilateral relations, and agreed to elevate these relations to new heights. In this context, both sides underscored the importance for the regular exchange of high-level visits for promoting bilateral relations based on trust and friendship. Foreign Minister Gyawali said that Nepal appreciates China’s neighborhood diplomacy guided by the principles of sincerity, amity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Both sides agreed to expedite the implementation of all agreements and understandings reached in the past, including those concluded during the visit of Prime Minister Rt. Hon. K.P. Sharma Oli in March 2016 and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in March 2017. Both sides shared common views on developing cross-border multi-dimensional transport networks for better connectivity and shared prosperity.
The two sides agreed to establish a coordination and implementation mechanism
[one_third_last] for facilitating the effective implementation of the Chinese government-aided projects. The two sides held discussions on achieving an enhanced level of bilateral co-operation in the development of infrastructure, transportation networks, trade, tourism and people-to-people relations under the Belt and Road Initiative, and agreed to identify projects for cooperation under the Initiative. They also discussed conducting the feasibility study and preparation of DPR of Nepal-China Cross Border Railway line from Keyrong to Kathmandu, and from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Lumbini. The two sides agreed to convene the meetings of bilateral mechanisms at the earliest, and continue consultations for finalizing the instruments under negotiations.
Foreign Minister Hon. Gyawali emphasized the need to open more cross-border routes in the coming days, and for upgrading the facilities in the Rasuwagadhi/Keyrong and Tatopani/Zhangmu Ports. Both sides also discussed early re-opening of Tatopani port.
Foreign Minister Hon. Gyawali stressed the need to enhance Nepal’s exports to China in order to reduce the widening trade gap. State Councilor and Minister for Foreign Affairs H.E. Wang Yi assured of providing better market access and urged utilizing opportunities provided by China’s opening-up policies and reforms.
In the evening of 17 April 2018, Foreign Minister Hon. Gyawali attended a reception hosted in his honor by the Embassy of Nepal, Beijing. Representatives of Beijing-based think tanks and the academia, members of the Nepali community, friends of Nepal as well as several members of the diplomatic community in Beijing attended the function. On the occasion, Foreign Minister Gyawali also unveiled ‘The Selected Speeches of Prime Minister KP Oli,’ translated into Chinese language.
Foreign Minister Hon. Pradeep K Gyawali is scheduled to deliver a speech at a Roundtable organized by China Reform Forum in Beijing tomorrow morning. He will also address the ‘Nepal Tourism Promotion in China 2018,’ to be jointly organized by the Embassy of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board, and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) in Beijing tomorrow.
Foreign Minister Hon. Pradeep K Gyawali will leave for Chengdu tomorrow evening, where he will meet with provincial leaders and deliver a speech at a program held in his honor in Sichuan University.
Embassy of Nepal
Beijing
