KATHMANDU, July 31: The Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, paid a courtesy call on Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari on Wednesday.
In the meeting held at the Ministry in Singha Durbar, Minister Bhandari said the relations between Nepal and the People's Republic of China have been very close historically, politically and culturally.
He asserted, "I feel that the people-to-people relations and mutual cooperation between the two countries have further expanded the dimensions of Nepal-China relations. I would like to make it clear that the Government of Nepal is committed to the One-China Policy and is determined not to allow its land to be misused for any kind of anti-China activities."
Citing the high-level visits exchanged between the two countries in recent years to further bolster bilateral ties, he assured that Nepal was committed to contributing to China's peace, stability and development.
The minister acknowledged China as an important and credible development partner to Nepal for its socio-economic development.
Minister Bhandari, Chinese Envoy hold meeting
"China is the second biggest partner of Nepal in the field of trade while it is the first investor in the field of Foreign Direct Investment," he said lauding the important role played by China in Nepal's bid to development especially in the areas of trade, infrastructures, connectivity, energy, agriculture and industrial development, among others.
He mentioned that the volume of trade between the two countries has increased significantly after the re-operation of the border checkpoints. Minister Bhandari, however, lamented that although China is Nepal's second biggest partner in trade, there was a huge gap between imports and exports.
He said that his ministry was eager to develop trade related infrastructures, upgrade transportation systems, reform the customs services and modernize the logistic system and expressed his confidence that bilateral trade could be significantly enlarged through China's specialization and benefits from investment.
He also expressed his confidence that the dry port, under-construction with the support of the Chinese government at Timure in Rasuwa, would be completed within the stipulated deadline.
The minister was also hopeful about the earliest implementation of the in-principle agreement signed between Nepal and China to develop infrastructures at Korala of Mustang.
He apprised the Chinese envoy that the exploration of petroleum products in Dailekh being undertaken with the Chinese government's support was being accelerated.
Recalling the encouraging participation of Chinese investors in the third Investment Summit organized by the Government of Nepal last April, he said he believed that Nepal would attract more Chinese investment in the coming days.
He also admitted that he was very excited to coordinate efforts with the Chinese government to expand the market of Nepali products in China.
In response, Chinese Envoy Chen reaffirmed his commitment towards further expanding Nepal-China relations, thereby creating a friendlier environment.
Stating that China had been a development and trade partner for Nepal, he shared that he has been working towards creating an enabling environment for cooperation by holding interactions with the ministries concerned including the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
