China, Nepal vow to upgrade links to new level

BEIJING - Top Chinese and Nepalese diplomats agreed on Wednesday that the two countries will lift their relations to a new level during Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav's upcoming visit to China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Nepali counterpart Mahendra Bahadur Pande held talks in Beijing ahead of Nepali President Yadav's China visit to attend the Boao Forum for Asia later this month.

Wang said President Yadav is welcome to China, expressing the belief that the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Yadav will be of great significance for the future growth of bilateral links.

Pande said President Yadav's visit to China will greatly advance bilateral cooperation in all areas and lift bilateral relations to a new level.

Pande thanked China for its help, saying his country expects to gain more benefits from China's development. He said Nepal welcomes and is ready to participate in the "Belt and Road" projects advocated by China.

Nepal has became a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and participated in the Silk Road Economic Belt project.

During an official visit to Nepal on Dec 25-27 last year, Wang Yi announced to increase China's grant assistance to Nepal to 800 million yuan from 150 million yuan. The two sides officially inked the grant deal in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Wang said China appreciates Nepal's firmly upholding the one-China policy and never allowing any forces to use the territories of Nepal to carry out separatist activities against China. He expressed the wish that Nepali will continue to support China's stance and adopt effective and preemptive measures to maintain common security and stability of both countries.

Pande said the Nepali government puts great importance on its relations with China and firmly adheres to the one-China policy. He said Nepal will never allow any forces to use its territories to carry out any activities against its friendly neighbor China.