Nepali leaders hail goodwill visit of Chinese FM

Political leaders of Nepal hailed the three-day goodwill visit to the Himalayan nation by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying that it would further strengthen the already robust bilateral ties between the two countries.

Minister Wang and his seven-member delegation met on Friday with leaders of Nepal's major political parties and other high- level officials. The minister also paid a courtesy call separately on Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and President Dr Ram Baran Yadav.

Nepal Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey said that during his meetings with Nepal officials, Minister Wang assured them of China's continued support for Nepal's economic development. They also reviewed a wide range of areas in the two countries' bilateral relations.

"This type of goodwill visit strengthens the bilateral relations and we are positive that China-Nepal ties will continue to prosper in the coming years," Pandey told Xinhua.

In a foreign-ministers level meeting on Friday, both the countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on nine major areas. China promised to advance cooperation with Nepal on investment, agriculture, infrastructure, science and technology, connectivity, tourism, culture, security and law.

Minister Wang has won the hearts or the Nepali people when he said at a press conference that the ties between the two countries which are connected by mountains and rivers are brilliant examples of an enduring friendship, one that have been unchanged for the past several years.

"The two foreign ministers agreed in many areas to boost the existing cooperation, which is a very welcome development. It's an important occasion for all of us," Jhalanath Khanal, chairman of CPN UML, told Xinhua after a meeting with Minister Wang.

Khanal's opinion was echoed by Unified Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, also a former prime minister, who had hosted the visit of former Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in Nepal in January 2012.

"This visit of the Chinese foreign minister is very timely and long expected, which has given a strong positive message that China would continue to give prominence to its neighboring countries, especially to Nepal", Dr Bhattarai said.

The three-day visit, regarded as one of the high level visits from China after the elections of Nepal's Constituent Assembly in 2013, came at a time when Nepal is set to promulgate a new constitution within less than a month.

Leela Mani Poudel, chief secretary of the Nepal government, told Xinhua that they are quite optimistic that Wang's visit could pave the way for a state visit to Nepal by China President Xi Jinping, when the two neighbors mark the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

However, the Chinese side made it clear that President Xi's visit has not been confirmed yet.