Nepal accords priority to China in foreign relations

Beijing: Allaying concerns over the fall of pro-Beijing Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s government, a top Nepalese leader on Wednesday said Nepal accords a priority to China in its foreign relations and abides by the ‘One-China’ policy. [caption id=“attachment_1061985” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Nepal’s Prime Minister Prachanda. AFP.[/caption] Newly elected Prime Minister Prachanda’s special envoy, Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara made the remarks during his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Mahara said Nepal will strengthen coordination and cooperation with China, and implement all consensus already reached between the two countries. His visit comes following anxieties in Beijing over the fate of several projects connecting China and Nepal signed by former Prime Minister Oli to reduce landlocked Nepal’s dependence on India. Li said China appreciates the importance attached to relations with Beijing by the new Nepalese government. He said China will work with Nepal in the spirit of friendship, sincerity, and mutual benefit, to jointly promote bilateral relations as well as peace, stability and prosperity in the region. China plans to expand bilateral cooperation in such areas as trade, connectivity and infrastructure construction. China will also help Nepal in natural disaster relief and post-disaster reconstruction, Li added. Mahara was visiting Beijing just two weeks after Prachanda was elected as Nepal’s new prime minister. He also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. China considers Taiwan and Tibet as part of the country and requires other nations to accept it as “One-China” policy. China is also worried over supporters of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama fleeing from Tibet to India via Nepal.