KATHMANDU, Feb 8: China has expressed concern over the evolving political situation in Nepal following the dissolution of the House of Representatives.
In a recent telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the two ministers exchanged views on Nepal's domestic situation, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
Wang, who is also China's State Councilor, told Gyawali that his country adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and respects the development path chosen by the Nepali people, reads the press statement.
"As a friendly neighbor, China hopes that all parties and factions in Nepal will bear in mind the fundamental and long-term interests of the country and its people, seek common ground while shelving differences, and maintain unity and stability, so as to create favorable conditions and environment for its own development and prosperity," the Chinese Foreign Ministry says.
NC calls its office-bearers' meeting to discuss evolving situat...
The two foreign ministers also discussed cooperation on the COVID-19 pandemic between the two countries.
According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese FM Wang announced to provide 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal.
During the conversation, Wang Yi said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Nepal have helped each other, strived to work together to defeat the virus, and carried out sound cooperation in the anti-virus fight.
"China has been earnestly fulfilling President Xi Jinping's commitment to making Chinese COVID-19 vaccines a global public good. China attaches great importance to Nepal's urgent need of COVID-19 vaccines and has decided to provide the first batch of vaccine aid for Nepal and to facilitate its purchase of vaccines," Wang has been quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry as saying during the conversation.
Wang also recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Nepal in 2019 and said that the visit lifted the bilateral relations to a new level.
"At the end of last year, President Xi Jinping and President Bidya Devi Bhandari exchanged letters and jointly announced the new height of Mount Qomolangma, sending a positive signal about the time-honored friendship and thriving relations between the two countries to the outside world. The two sides should continue to make every effort to implement the results of Xi's visit to Nepal and promote the continuous development of China-Nepal relations," reads the press statement.
During the conversation, FM Gyawali said that Nepal and China are all-weather friends. "Nepal appreciates China's support for it in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China principle and will never allow any forces to engage in anti-China activities in Nepal," the ministry quoted the minister as saying duroing the conversation.
On the occasion, Gyawali also praised China's timely and valuable vaccine aid to Nepal, and said Nepal stands ready to continue to deepen anti-pandemic cooperation with China. "Nepal is ready to work with China to well implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen cooperation in various fields and push for further development of bilateral relations," Gyawali told Wang.
