KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala said the high Himalayas and cultural similarities of people bound the two countries – Nepal and China – together for long.

In her key note speech on “Nepal-China Relations” at the China Institute for International Studies (CIIS) in Beijing today Koirala noted that Nepal and China shared various symbols of eternal relationship and proximity to each other. Ma Zhengang, president of the institute, welcomed the minister at the event which was attended by a large number of academicians, intellectuals, ambassadors and friends of Nepal.

“My generation of leadership is committed to carrying forward these historic ties and cordial relationship to a new height in the coming days,” she said.

She also referred to the contributions made by

the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal, BP Koirala, in laying a strong foundation for the promotion of friendly relationship by establishing embassies in each other’s capital and signing of the treaty of Peace and Friendship.

The foreign minister reaffirmed that Nepal had consistently upheld ‘One China’ policy. She said that Nepal recognised Tibet as an integral part of China and was firm on its stance on prohibiting using Nepali territory against China.

She also mentioned about the momentous political changes that have taken place in Nepal following the successful conclusion of the people’s movement in 2006 and stressed the need for successfully concluding the ongoing peace process with consensus, dialogue and unity among all the political actors. She appreciated the visionary leadership of China as a great anchor to the world in the face of the recent global economic upheavals. The minister said that China was a valued partner in Nepal’s development efforts and that Nepal felt the need to inject new dynamism in the scope and the modality of cooperation by expanding economic and commercial relations.