On the morning of September 25, 2023, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who is on an official visit to China.
Li Qiang said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries nearly 70 years ago, China and Nepal have always respected, trusted and supported each other, bilateral relations have enjoyed sound and steady development, and cooperation in various fields has constantly scored new achievements, setting a good example of treating each other as equals and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Prachanda successfully held a meeting in Hangzhou, and made further plans for the development of China-Nepal relations. China is ready to work with Nepal to follow through on the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, consolidate and expand practical cooperation, push for new progress in China-Nepal relations at a higher level, and join hands in creating a better future for the two countries.
Li Qiang pointed out that China is ready to work with Nepal to consolidate the bedrock of political mutual trust between the two countries, and will, as always, firmly support Nepal in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and following a development path suited to its national conditions. The two sides should take high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as a mainstay to further guide bilateral cooperation in an in-depth manner. China is ready to work with Nepal to continuously elevate the level of connectivity in ports, roads, railways, aviation, communication and electricity, among others, accelerate the building of the trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network between China and Nepal, and boost the transition of Nepal from a land-locked country to a land-linked country. China is ready to import more quality agricultural products from Nepal, encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in the development and construction of Nepal in such fields as production capacity, agriculture and infrastructure facilities, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation in education, medical health, tourism and localities to constantly forge closer bonds between the two peoples.
Prachanda congratulated China on successfully hosting the opening ceremony of the Asian Games Hangzhou, and highly appreciated China for its tremendous achievements in social and economic development and poverty elimination. Prachanda said that Nepal-China relations are built on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and have stood the test of the changing international landscape. Nepal is firmly committed to the one-China principle, supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and does not allow any forces to use Nepal's territory for anti-China activities. Nepal thanks China for providing Nepal with strong support in its economic and social development and its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, supports the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China, and stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as infrastructure connectivity, trade, investment, energy, tourism and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, join hands in safeguarding the common interests of developing countries, and work for a more just and equitable international order.
After the talks, the two prime ministers jointly witnessed the signing of more than ten bilateral cooperation documents on economy and trade, agriculture, science and technology, culture, publishing, digital economy, green and low-carbon development, inspection and quarantine, and development assistance, among others.
Prior to the talks, Li Qiang held a welcoming ceremony for Prachanda at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People.
Wu Zhenglong was present at the above events.
On the afternoon of the same day, Prachanda laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes.