Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nepal relations and is willing to work with them. In an exchange of congratulatory messages with his Nepali counterpart, Bidhya Devi Bhandari on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Xi said he is ready to work with Bhandari to bring greater benefits to the two peoples and make positive contributions to regional stability and development. He pointed out that the friendship between China and Nepal has a long history and remained ever new over time, saying that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 65 years ago, the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, enhanced political mutual trust and deepened mutually beneficial cooperation.
Noting that he and Bhandari exchanged visits last year, Xi said the two sides have stuck together through thick and thin and stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, and have written a new chapter of friendship between China and Nepal. Bhandarim too, in her congratulatory message, said that the Nepal-China friendship has a long history and a solid foundation. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have developed and deepened significantly, she said, adding that Nepal welcomes the China-proposed vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and actively participates in the cooperation on the co-building of the Belt and Road.
Expressing Nepal''s appreciation of China''s effective measures to contain the COVID-19 epidemic and a sincere gratitude for China''s invaluable support to Nepal in its epidemic battle, Bhandari said Nepal is ready to work with China to fully implement the broad consensus reached by the two heads of state so as to benefit the two countries and peoples. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also exchanged congratulatory messages. Li said in his message that since this year, China and Nepal have joined hands to fight the COVID-19 epidemic, and further enhanced their mutual trust and friendship while Oli said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have seen a sustained, stable and sound development.
Over the years, China has been drastically investing into Nepal under several projects like multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China has also been topping in FDI pledges to Nepal for the last four consecutive fiscal years. In a Xinhua report, Nepal received over 90 percent of total foreign direct investment (FDI) commitment from China during the first quarter of fiscal year 2019-20 that began in mid-July last. Of total FDI pledges which stand at 95 million US dollars, China alone pledged 88 million US dollars during the first quarter, according to the Nepal''s Department of Industry. This represents nearly 93 percent of total foreign investments committed FDI.
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