Kathmandu, September 7 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who is currently on an official visit to China, today met top Chinese leaders, including Premier Li Keqiang, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Beijing. During the meeting with China’s Premier Li, DPM Mahara said China’s Belt and Road Initiative would enhance mutual co-operation, cross-border connectivity, trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people relations. Mahara said he had come up with a common consensus among major political leaders in the government and in the opposition to build railway connectivity between Nepal and China as a national priority project. Both sides agreed to take necessary measures to carry out technical study of the project, according to a press statement issued by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing. DPM Mahara also called on Yang Jiechi, State Councilor of China. In the meeting, he said Nepal had accorded high importance to the implementation of the MoU on Belt and Road Initiative signed between the two countries. State Councilor Yang said the two countries should elevate their relations to a new height with a long-term vision and implement projects under the Belt and Road Initiative for mutual benefit. Earlier in the day, DPM Mahara held bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. During the talks, the two sides agreed to implement the agreements and understandings reached in the past and convene the meetings of Nepal-China bilateral mechanisms to enhance co-operation between the two countries. Mahara appreciated China’s continued development assistance to Nepal, including support for post-earthquake reconstruction activities. He also expressed his happiness over the upgradation of the Kerung-Rasuwagadhi border point as an international port, and hoped that the Tatopani border point would resume operations soon, according to the statement issued by the Embassy of Nepal in China. Addressing a joint press conference after bilateral talks, DPM Mahara expressed firm commitment of Nepal to “One China Policy”. “We have the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of any other countries. We appreciate China’s neighbourhood diplomacy guided by the principle of sincerity, amity and mutual benefit. Our relations are guided by the five principles of peaceful co-existence. Friendliness, mutual cooperation, understanding and appreciation of each other’s aspirations and sensitivities constitute the essential ingredients of our relationship,” he said. Mahara also attended a luncheon hosted by Chinese Minister Wang in his honour. In the evening, he attended a reception hosted in his honour by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing. Representatives of Beijing-based think tanks and the academia, members of the Nepali community, friends of Nepal as well as members of the diplomatic community in Beijing attended the function. READ ALSO:

• MoUs signed