KATHMANDU: Various foreign affairs experts have observed that different agreements including the transit and transport treaty signed between Nepal and China on Monday have added new chapter to the Nepal-China relations.

They said that the agreements would have a long-term importance in the economic development of Nepal.

A 10-point deal was signed on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Chinese counterpart Li Kequing, during PM Oli's official week-long visit to the northern neighbour.

Talking to the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), foreign affairs expert Hiranya Lal Shrestha said "The transit and transport agreement signed with China has a long-term importance for the landlocked country Nepal. A situation of depending on a single country has ended. This pact has added a new chapter. We can now use Chinese ports. We can exchange business with third countries."

Shrestha argued that the transit agreement signed with China also opened the way for supply of goods from mid-Asia, from borders of Pakistan and Myanmar.

The agreements have been made at a time when both China and India are ready to increase business among the countries via Nepal.

Stating that PM Oli's China visit has become very successful, another foreign affairs expert and CPN-UML lawmaker Rajan Bhattarai reminded that economic and infrastructure development are going positive after the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries.

Bhattarai said, "The issue of petroleum product is the matter linked with national security. Searching alternatives to the problems that we faced in past six months is not unnatural. It is not the agreement signed against any another country."

Another foreign affairs expert Dinesh Bhattarai, however, said, "We cannot reap benefits at the earliest due to long-distance roads. We should see profit on the basis of comparative benefits while doing business."

Moreover, Foreign Department member of the UCPN-Maoist, Yubaraj Chaulagain, observed that there was a possibility of policy-level transformation in foreign relations and economic development of Nepal due to the agreement signed with China.

He said, "The PM's China visit would be further successful if further issues including fuel and silk route were also included."