China, Nepal to expand cooperation

BEIJING: China and Nepal have agreed on expanding cooperation under President Xi Jinping‘s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), promoting free trade arrangements and increasing industrial and energy capacities, the state media reported.

The report came hours after Xi met visiting Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kumar Dahal “Prachanda“in Beijing on Monday.

Prachanda’s visit comes at a time when India appears to have improved ties with Nepal after a period of diplomatic turbulence.

“Both sides are expected to promote cooperation in connectivity, free trade arrangements, agriculture, industrial capacity, energy and post-disaster reconstruction, taking advantage of the opportunity provided by jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative,” Xi was quoted as saying at the bilateral meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

“Xi called on the two sides to strengthen political trust, have more close exchanges and support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns,” state-run Xinhua news agency reported.