KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal sought Chinese assistance in the construction of Rasuwa-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railway in Nepal, his secretariat said in a statement.

In a meeting with Chinese Premier Zhang Gaoli in Hainan province of China today, the Prime Minister said the two nations should forge an agreement for the project soon.

Dahal is currently in Hainan to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2017.

Likewise, the two nations should forge agreements on energy connectivity, transit protocols, infrastructure development, fuel storage, transmission lines among others, the PM told Zhang, according to the statement issued after the meeting.

In response, the Chinese leader said he was positive about all the proposals and hoped that agreements for them would be signed in the near future.

He also said China would increase its support to Nepal at various levels.

Dahal also requested the northern neighbour to operate trade via various border points and revive trade activities via the Tatopani border, which had been marred by the 2015 earthquake.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister also expressed his commitment to implement the past agreements signed with the northern neighbour smoothly.

He reiterated that Nepal was keen to be involved in the One Belt One Road project and committed to the One China policy.

Meanwhile, Zhang expressed his happiness over the preparations for local elections in Nepal and hoped that the political parties together could solve internal issues here.

He had offered a warm welcome to Dahal citing they would know each other for years, according to the the PM's Secretariat.

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