Nepal-China relations founded on shared culture: PM Prachanda

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Jan 14: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has viewed that Nepal-China relations are founded on shared culture and that both neighbours are trusted friends and reliable partners which understand each other’s sensitivities.

Prime Minister Prachanda made the remarks in his inaugural address to the Chinese New Year reception held this evening here in Kathmandu.

I would like to underscore that our two civilizations are connected not only by rivers and mountains but also by shared culture and people-to-people contacts. One best example of our close relationship is following of Lunar Calender and celebration of Lunar New Year in both countries, that is celebrations of Lhosar in Nepal by a considerable size of population, said the PM.

Nepal and China are close neighbors, trusted friends, and reliable partners. We understand each other’s aspirations and sensitivities and extend support to each other in times of need in the spirit of true friendship, he said.

Referring to his official visit to China in September 2023 and his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders there, PM Prachanda shared that the agreements made during the visit are being gradually implemented.

Nepal and China are close neighbors, trusted friends, and reliable partners. We understand each other’s aspirations and sensitivities and extend support to each other in times of need in the spirit of true friendship, said the PM.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Prachanda reiterated that Nepal adheres firmly to One China Policy and that “Nepal recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory”.

        Referring to the cultural show being presented during the reception, PM Prachanda said, “Such cultural programmes epitomize our trouble-free relations and further nurture into an organic and symbiotic interactions”.

      PM Prachanda also invited Chinese tourists to visit Nepal. “Nepal is a place for body and mind rejuvenation. I welcome my Chinese friends to visit Nepal to see how connected we are. New Year vacations could be a window to peek into our religious, geographical, and cultural affinities. And to be rejuvenated to spring into newer energies to realize new dreams.”

        Speaking on the occasion, Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song remarked that the high-level exchanges between Nepal and China including the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in 2019 and Prime Minister Prachanda’s official visit to China in 2023 have made good formulas for cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Chen said that PM Prachanda’s visit to China last year and the agreements made during the visit have made solid ground to elevate Nepal-China relations of strategic partnership of cooperation to a new height.

        He said China will work to further consolidate relations between the two countries by implementing projects related to Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

    The ambassador also said that a host of programme including a friendly football match were being held in the coming months to mark the Spring Festival in Nepal and deepen people-to-people relations.

Over a dozen cultural performances including that of Nepal by the Chinese artists from Yunnan province of China were presented in the programme -2024 "Voices of Spring Golden Dreams” Cross Border Spring Festival Evening Gala.