Beijing: At the Invitation of H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Rt. Honorable Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Prime Minister of Nepal, is on an official visit to China from September 23 to 30, 2023 and attended the Opening Ceremony of the 19th Asian Games.

During the visit, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' met with President Xi Jinping, held talks with Premier Li Qiang, and met with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji. In a warm and cordial atmosphere, leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchange of views and reached extensive consensus on deepening China-Nepal traditional friendship, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. They also shared views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Nepali side extended its congratulations on the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and the important outcomes of the annual sessions of China’s National People’s Congress and National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The Nepali side commended China’s achievements in its economic and social development in recent years under the able leadership of President Xi Jinping, and wished the Chinese people greater development and progress. The Chinese side congratulated Nepal on its successful local, provincial and national elections and the formation of the new government, and wished the Nepali people enjoy development and prosperity at an early date.

The two sides recalled President Xi Jinping’s historic state visit to Nepal in 2019, during which the bilateral relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, underlining the special significance of high-level exchanges to the development of bilateral relations. The two sides will maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, and expand exchanges and cooperation at all levels between the two countries.

The two sides agreed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1955, China and Nepal had withstood changes of the international situation, always upheld mutual respect, equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and win-win cooperation, setting a fine example of friendly interaction between countries with different social systems and of different sizes. The two sides agreed to further accelerate the implementation of the instruments signed and the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, and, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the principle of good neighborliness and friendship, strengthen strategic communication, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

Acknowledging the history of mutual support in difficult times, the two sides reiterated their commitment to respecting and accommodating each other’s concerns and core interests.

The Nepali side reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle. Recognizing that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, the Nepali side is against “Taiwan independence.”
The Nepali side reiterated that Tibet affairs are China’s internal affairs, that it will never allow any separatist activities against China on Nepal’s soil.

The Chinese side reaffirmed its commitment to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendship and partnership in the neighborhood. China firmly supports Nepal in upholding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and respects and supports Nepal’s independent choice of social system and development path that suits its national conditions.

The two sides, while acknowledging the signing of the MoU between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative on 12 May 2017, expressed their commitment to accelerate the consultations to finalize the text on the BRI Implementation Plan at an early date. They expressed readiness to exchange experiences on their development strategies, deepen practical cooperation in such fields as infrastructure connectivity, trade, tourism, production capacity and investment, and further deepen and solidify Belt and Road cooperation to deliver greater benefits to their peoples. The two sides agreed to strengthen connectivity in such areas as ports, roads, railways, airways and grids in an orderly manner, jointly build the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, work together to ensure the safety of the cooperation projects and company personnel of the two countries, and contribute to Nepal’s realization of its development agenda including graduating from the least developed country status at an early date.

The two sides welcomed the successful opening of the Lizi-Nechung port and the reopening of the Zhangmu-Khasa port to passenger services. The two sides applaud the smooth and orderly operation of passenger and cargo services at Pulan and Jilong ports. The Chinese side will extend its support to improve the facilities on the Nepali side of the Lizi-Nechung port at the earliest possible time. The Chinese side agreed to work for the early reopening of eligible traditional China-Nepal border trade points. The two sides agreed to maintain communication for the opening of Chentang-Kimathanka, Riwu-Olangchungola ports at an early date.

The two sides agreed to continue to implement the signed cooperation documents concerning transit transport and utilization of highways in China to help turn Nepal from a land-locked country to a land-linked country. In light of Nepal’s needs, the Chinese side is ready to start the fourth phase of the Araniko Highway maintenance project. The Chinese side is ready to start repairing the Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Highway as soon as possible after the Nepali side completes its demolition work.

Both sides agreed to accelerate the feasibility study of the Tokha-Chhare Tunnel project, recognizing that the project will elevate the level of connectivity between the two countries. The two sides agreed to expedite the implementation of the second phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road project.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over the progress of the feasibility study of the Jilong/Keyrung-Kathmandu Cross-Border Railway, and planned to hold the 8th Working Meeting on China-Nepal Railway Cooperation as early as possible. The Chinese side is ready to help Nepal train railway professionals.

The two sides welcomed the consensus reached between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries on expanding the air rights arrangements, and expressed satisfaction over the completion and operation of the Pokhara International Airport. The two sides support and encourage their airlines to resume and open more flights and air routes, including ones connecting Pokhara, in accordance with bilateral air rights arrangements and in light of market needs, so as to facilitate trade and economic interactions and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides will further promote cooperation in the field of energy, particularly the development of hydropower and cross-border transmission lines and associated substations. The two sides will continue working toward the finalization of China-Nepal Electric Power Cooperation Plan by convening the second meeting of the Joint Implementation Mechanism at the earliest. The two sides will launch