KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 28

Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wang Wenbin today said in Beijing that China had noted the ratification of the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, along with the 'interpretative declaration' by Nepal's House of Representatives.

He said this during the ministry's regular press briefing when asked by a journalist to comment on the parliamentary ratification of the compact, according to details posted on Chinese foreign ministry's website.

He said, 'China had stressed on multiple occasions that international development cooperation should follow the principle of mutual respect and equal treatment, as well as fully respect the sovereignty of the country concerned and the will of the people.

'It should not interfere in the other country's internal affairs, attach political strings, or engage in coercive diplomacy, still less undermine the other country's sovereignty and interests.'

The Chinese MoFA spokesperson said that as Nepal's friendly neighbour and development partner, China would as always support Nepali people in independently finding a path to development.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 1 2022, of The Himalayan Times.