KATHMANDU: Wu Yingjie, Secretary General of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s party committee of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of the People’s Republic of China has called on Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepali Federal Parliament, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, in Lhasa on Friday evening.

During the meeting, Secretary General Yingjie congratulated the Speaker for being elected to the post. He also expressed his appreciation to Nepal for sending a high level delegation led by the Speaker to the fourth China-Tibet International Tourism and Culture Expo 2018.

Yingjie mentioned that China and Nepal have been enjoying very cordial relations and recalled the exchange of high level visits, including visits by the President of Nepal, Prime Ministers of Nepal and other high level dignitaries in the recent years to China, including Tibet.

He noted that China’s Tibet and Nepal shared similar culture, geography and religion, and thanked Nepal for supporting the One-China Policy.

The TAR CPC Secretary General mentioned that the Chinese development model has kept people at its centre and highlighted the importance attached to poverty alleviation in China as well as success of such programmes. He added that the central government of China, including President Xi Jinping, had paid great attention to the development of Tibet.

He also said that the TAR government would provide support to increase tourism and foreign investment in Nepal.

In the meeting, Speaker Mahara thanked the TAR government for the invitation, warm hospitality and excellent arrangements made for him and his delegation. Recalling that he had attended the opening ceremony of the third China-Tibet Tourism and Culture Expo in 2016, he expressed his happiness to be in TAR again for the fourth expo as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Nepal.

He mentioned the cordial relations existing between Nepal and China, and the importance of TAR in providing a solid foundation for this relationship based on family relations, social, cultural, religious and geographical links and similarities with Nepal. The Federal Parliament Speaker noted that Nepal and China have adhered to the five principles of peaceful coexistence or the principles of Panchasheel in their bilateral relations. He reiterated Nepal's support to One-China Policy.

Noting that China has achieved tremendous socio-economic development, Speaker Mahara remarked that Nepal hopes to receive the benefits.

In light of the fact that China has put forward the visionary Belt and Road Initiative to bring the benefits of development to a wider region including its neighborhood and that Nepal had joined this initiative, he hoped that necessary infrastructures would be built to further increase connectivity between Nepal and China, to promote trade, tourism and other interactions for the benefit of both countries.

He also added that Nepal was past the phase of long political transition by promulgating a new constitution based on federal system, by successfully holding the three-tier elections envisioned by the new constitution, and forming new governments. This has created conducive environment for foreign investment in Nepal and Speaker urged the government of TAR and China to increase investment in Nepal.

He also extended an invitation to Secretary General Yingjie to visit Nepal at a convenient time in the future. Meanwhile, Speaker Mahara also observed the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa on Friday evening.

On the occasion, Consul General Govinda Bahadur Karki welcomed the Speaker and his delegation, and briefed them about the state of affairs at the Consulate General and Nepal-Tibet trade policy and possibilities. Speaker Mahara opined that Nepal could take much benefit from trade with Tibet, which adjoins Nepal.

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