Kathmandu, April 25:

The second edition of China Trade Fair 2008 kicked off here today at International Convention Centre (ICC), New Baneswar with a view to promote bilateral trade, investment and business opportunities between China and Nepal.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara, minister for information and communication, inaugurated the fair, which is being jointly organised by Nepal-China Executive Council (NCEC) and Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu with Nepal China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCCI) as a co-organiser. The four-day long event will last till April 28.

Mahara lauded the initiatives of the organisers that bring updates on Sino-Nepal bilateral trade, tourism and investment as well as promote other avenues of economic cooperation at private sector level.

Stating the changed political context in Nepal, he further said Nepal would now strengthen its bilateral relations with its neighbours through economic diplomacy.

“The bilateral relationship would be further strengthened with a new spirit and in the interest of benefiting peoples at greater extent,” Mahara said.

Zhang Xianglin, Chinese ambassador to Nepal, on the occasion, said that Sino-Nepal bilateral trade rose to $400 million in 2007, and is growing every year.