China to enhance BRI cooperation with Nepal in transport, agriculture

China is ready to work with Nepal to continuously improve connectivity at ports, roads, railways, aviation, telecommunications and electricity, and help Nepal, a landlocked country, upgrade connectivity with neighboring countries as soon as possible, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang during talks with Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on Monday in Beijing, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Prachanda is carrying out an official visit to China from September 23 to 30.

Li emphasized that the two countries should take joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative as the main axis to further deepen the cooperation.

China and Nepal have always respected, trusted and supported each other since the establishment of diplomatic ties nearly 70 years ago, Li said, noting that China is willing to work with Nepal to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and push China-Nepal relations to a higher level.

China is willing to import more quality agricultural products from Nepal, encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in the development and construction of Nepal, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in education, medical care, tourism, among others, said Li.

Prachanda highly appreciated China's remarkable achievements in economic development and poverty alleviation, saying that the Nepal-China relations have withstood the test of changing international situation. The Nepalese side firmly abides by the one-China principle, supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and does not allow any force to use Nepali territory for anti-China activities, the prime minister said.

Prachanda also expressed gratitude in China's strong support for Nepal's economic development and for its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, saying Nepal is willing to work with China to boost cooperation under the "Belt and Road Initiative" and to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

After the talks, Li and Prachanda witnessed the signing of more than 10 bilateral cooperation agreements in trade and economy, agriculture, technology, culture, publishing, digital economy, green and low-carbon development, inspection and quarantine, and development assistance.