Nepal PM Prachanda concludes 'successful' trip to China

After concluding his week-long visit to China, Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that both countries successfully strengthened ties during the trip and further deepened the historic relations existing between the two neighbours. After landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Saturday, PM Prachanda told reporters that his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang contributed to taking Nepal-China relations to a new height. “During the high-level meetings, the Chinese president and Prime Minister have given assurance that the past agreements reached between Nepal and China will be gradually implemented. The Chinese authorities have also agreed to resume operations of all the trading points between Nepal and China that were shut down due to the outbreak of Corona pandemic,” the prime minister said. He added, “Important discussions were held with the Chinese authorities regarding the regular operation of Pokhara International Airport, the Prime Minister said. After doing some preparatory work, there will be direct two-way flights between Pokhara and Chengdu in China.” He continued, “We have exchanged views on further deepening multi-faceted relations between Nepal and China and held an open dialogue in having China’s support and assistance in Nepal’s development endeavours.” Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud, who was also part of the delegation, said that PM Prachanda’s visit was both economically and diplomatically successful. “The bilateral meetings that Prachanda held with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang were important and the agreements reached between Kathmandu and Nepal were also in the interest of Nepal and important for the economic development of the country,” the secretariat of the Foreign Minister said. With inputs from PTI