China PM Li congratulates Balen, wishes to collaborate with Nepal PM

China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang on Saturday extended congratulations to newly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressing commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation and collaboration. In the congratulatory message sent to PM Shah, the Chinese leader mentioned that ”China and Nepal are traditional friendly nations bind together by mountains and rivers.”

Bilateral relations between the two countries are based on five principles of peaceful coexistence, he said recalling the 71st year of establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal. Government of China will extend its cooperation in the efforts of Nepal government towards establishing good governance in the country, he pointed out.

He also expressed China’s support to Nepal’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He underscored the need to expand high level cooperation between the two countries in different sectors to take forward the Belt and Road Initiatives of China collaborating with Nepal’s Prime Minister Shah. He also reiterated that China-Nepal friendly strategic partnership should be further strengthened for attaining development and prosperity.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, extended congratulations to newly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal on his appointment to the high post.

In the message sent to Foreign Minister Khanal Chinese minister Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, noted that “China and Nepal are traditional friendly neighbours. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1955, the two countries have stood together through thick and thin, sharing weal and woe, and have continuously developed bilateral relations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.”

He also expressed China’s readiness to work closely with Minister Khanal to jointly implement the important consensus reached between the two sides, and to advance the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity to new heights, according to Foreign Ministry sources.