By Our Reporter
A week after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu paid a day-long visit to Nepal, Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau member and Chongqing City Committee Secretary Yuan Jiajun visited Nepal this week.
The CPC leader arrived in Nepal on Sunday for a three-day visit and left on Tuesday. On the day of arrival, he paid a courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel and held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal who was in Rome of Italy.
During his stay in Kathmandu, Jiajun met almost all key leaders including Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli, Acting Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadaka, Speaker Devraj Ghimire and others.
During his meetings with Nepali leaders, the visiting Chinese leader discussed bilateral relations, including economic, commercial, political, social, and religious issues. He also ensured Chinese cooperation with Nepal.
In the meeting held between Speaker Ghimire and Jiajun, the former expressed his gratitude to China for valuing Nepal by undertaking high-level visits. He said that such political exchanges would contribute to Nepal’s development and prosperity, especially after President Xi Jinping’s visit in 2019.
Ghimire highlighted Nepal’s progress in stability, development, and the institutionalisation of the constitution. He also emphasised the significance of the Transit Agreement and the development of the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung railway line, which was initiated by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Speaking about the historic ties between China and Nepal, Ghimire noted that both countries have a long history of harmonious relations connected through mountains, rivers, religion, and culture.
He praised China’s role in Nepal’s tourism industry, with a significant portion of tourists visiting from China.
During the meeting, Chinese leader Yuan Jiajun conveyed President Xi Jinping’s instructions and expressed China’s commitment to assisting Nepal in becoming self-sufficient in food. As a gesture of support, Yuan Jiajun announced an aid of 8 million Yuan, equivalent to Rs.140 million.
The Chinese leader also extended an invitation to Speaker Ghimire to visit China.
As a testament to the friendship between the two nations, Speaker Ghimire and leader Jiajun jointly inaugurated a language lab at LRI School Kalanki during their visit.
Speaker Ghimire praised China as a reliable development partner for Nepal, and the leaders expressed their optimism for further strengthening ties between the two countries.
Similarly, the visiting Chinese leader called on Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Purna Bahadur Khadka, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayankaji Shrestha, among others.
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