PM Dahal meets with Chinese President and Bhutanese PM in Goa

Goa (India), Oct 15: President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping has expressed his readiness to visit Nepal at the earliest convenient date.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on the sidelines of the BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit in Goa today, the Chinese President shared his readiness to visit Nepal after PM Dahal reiterated invitation to the President to visit Nepal. “I will visit Nepal at a convenient date within this year”, the Chinese President said, according to Foreign Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat.

The dates however will be finalized through diplomatic channel between the two countries. On the occasion, matters relating to promoting cooperation for development including infrastructure, connectivity, trade and transit were discussed. Prime Minister Dahal also expressed the commitment on behalf of the Government of Nepal to implement the agreements it signed with the Chinese government in the past, Dr Mahat said.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal also expressed gratitude for the Chinese assistance and goodwill towards Nepal and the Nepali people.

He made it clear that Nepal’s territory would not be allowed to be used against the interest of any friendly nation, while reiterating Nepal’s commitment to one-China policy.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the close and cordial bilateral relations based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence, and to resolve any issues through dialogue.

On the occasion, Chinese President Xi also supported Nepal’s proposal to move ahead by further strengthening the tri-lateral relations between neighbours Nepal, China and India.

Commitment was also expressed on behalf of China to add support in the field of agriculture, industry, hydropower and energy development in Nepal, as well as increasing scholarships for Nepali students.

Emphasizing on the need for unity among the countries in the region for effective enforcement of BIMSTEC, President Xi also suggested implementing the new constitution by consolidating internal unity of Nepal, according to Dr Mahat.

The expansion of railway line up to Lumbini of Nepal was also discussed during the meeting that lasted for around 40 minutes.

Foreign Minister Dr Mahat, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Charge d’ Affaires at the Embassy of Nepal in India Krishna Prasad Dhakal were present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged the Government of Bhutan to help prepare an atmosphere conducive to resolving the Bhutanese refugee problem soon.

“The aspiration of the Bhutanese refugees to return to Bhutan should be addressed,” he said in a meeting here today with his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay. Both the leaders are here to take part in the BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit.

Stating that resolution of the Bhutanese refugee problem would take the relations between the two countries to a new height, Prime Minister Dahal urged Bhutan to build a favourable atmosphere for the same, according to Foreign Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, who was present in the meeting.

Dr Mahat said Prime Minister Dahal also reiterated during the meeting that problems common to both the countries should be resolved through the exchange of mutual support.

Prime Minister Dahal also discussed with Prime Minister Tobgay about developing an atmosphere to hold the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Both the countries should work together to give momentum to the SAARC, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

Likewise, matters relating to collaboration between the SAARC Sub-group of Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh in the field of energy and tourism were discussed.

On the occasion, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay said Bhutan was positive towards resolving issues of bilateral interest and pledged to take the initiative to resolve the problem of refugees soon.

Foreign Minister Dr Mahat, Foreign Secretary Bairagi and Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Nepal in India, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, were present during the meeting.

Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this evening.

Prime Minister Dahal had reached Goa earlier today, leading an 18-member Nepali delegation to attend the first BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit taking place on October 16. RSS