Kathmandu, January 17

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli today hoped Nepal-China friendship would gain a newer height in the days to come.

Addressing a Nepal-China Think Tanks’ Conference in Kathmandu today, the former prime minister said China has remained an all-weather friend and expressed his confidence that it would remain the same in the days to come.

He recalled the signing of dozens of bilateral deals, including the transit and transportation treaty between Nepal and China during his visit to Beijing as prime minister last March. He said these have paved the way for deeper engagement.

He further stressed that time has come to work for deeper cooperation by getting rid of mere talking of bilateral cooperation.

The two-day symposium was organised by Xinhua News Agency, Kathmandu Bureau, and Nepal Study Centre at Hebei University of Economics and Business, China. Speaking at the conference, former deputy prime minister and foreign minister Kamal Thapa charged that the incumbent CPN-Maoist Centre-led government was not giving due priority to implementing the Nepal-China agreements sealed during then PM Oli’s Beijing visit last year.

Presenting his paper, Director of Institute of Contemporary Socialism in Shandong University, Cui Guitian spoke of the need of closer relationship between the political parties in China and Nepal.

“Political parties in China and Nepal should build a friendly neighbourhood relationship which will not be affected by change of leaders,” he said. “By adhering to the five principles of peaceful co-existence, we can promote bilateral relations between our parties and countries.”

During the symposium, issues, including the One Belt One Road Initiative introduced by the Chinese leadership, China-India-Nepal trilateral partnership as well as Economic and Cultural Corridor will be discussed.