Kathmandu, October 18

China today said it wanted to advance trilateral cooperation with Nepal and India, and a tripartite cooperation would contribute to stability and development in the region.

On being asked if Chinese, Nepali and Indian leaders discussed trilateral cooperation during their meeting in Goa, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said: “Nepal and India are China’s friendly neighbours.

We believe that positive interactions will not only promote economic and social development of the three countries, but also contribute to regional stability and development.”

She further said: “We would like to explore how to enhance trilateral cooperation with India and Nepal so as to advance common development of the three countries.”

The scribe had categorically asked about an informal meeting between Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which took place at a hotel’s waiting room on the sidelines of BRICS Summit in Goa, India on Sunday.

Earlier, Indian side had quashed assertions that a trilateral meeting between India, Nepal and China had taken place. PM Dahal dubbed it “coincidental, rare and pleasant surprise” and said he had also raised issue of trilateral cooperation, to which, both the Chinese and Indian leaders responded “very positively”.

In a regular press briefing in Beijing yesterday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua described in detail the discussion between President Xi and PM Dahal. She, however, mentioned nothing about what the Indian Prime Minister Modi, who had joined the informal meeting between Xi and Dahal later, said.

According to Hua, President Xi with PM Dahal, emphasised that China and Nepal needed to enhance high-level contacts and political exchanges and continue to support each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns.

He also stressed on consensus between the two sides on strengthening cooperation in connectivity, free trade arrangements and energy, she added.

The Chinese leaders also reiterated that China wanted to “deepen practical cooperation in various fields and forge a community of shared future with Nepal”, according to her.

PM Dahal, on his part, said Nepal regarded China as its reliable partner for development and stands ready to develop bilateral partnership in a more comprehensive way.

He also stated that Nepal played a positive role in connectivity projects under the framework of the Belt and Road initiative of China, read spokesperson Hua’s remarks posted on the Chinese foreign ministry’s website.