Nepal doesn’t play games with India, China, says Oli

Kathmandu, June 26: Nepal wants a cordial relationship with India and China and does not believe in playing “games” with it neighbours for short-term political gains, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli told Parliament on Tuesday.

Oli, who returned from his six-day visit to China on Sunday, was briefing Parliament about his recent “positive” visit to Beijing and highlighted the agreements the two countries inked during the trip. “The agreements we’ve reached show our commitment towards realising our common goal of development and prosperity,” Mr Oli said.

China had also expressed its commitment to provide the necessary support, he added.

Oli said his government was keen on ensuring Nepal’s development and prosperity and the only way to do so was by maintaining a cordial relationship with India and China. “We do not play card games with (China or India) for short political gains and we stand with our neighbours in good and bad times,” Mr Oli said. “For this reason, our foreign and global policies are guided with honest intentions that will not hinge country’s security, sovereignty and world peace,” he said.

Oli said Nepal and China had agreed to resume Tatopani entry point by May 2019 while setting up better infrastructures at Rasuwagadi and Kerung.

“The railway connectivity is an important agreement as it will help to speed up development and increase economic activities,” he said. —