Kathmandu, March 26: Visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi today sat down with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Dr Narayan Khadka at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar.
The meeting between the duo focused on Nepal-China relations, their mutual welfare and concerns and other issues at the national, regional and international level, it has been said. Expressing his gratitude for medical equipment and COVID-19 vaccines provided by the Chinese Government and reiterating Nepal’s firm commitment to its one-China policy, the minister drew the attention of the Chinese minister to negative impacts on the country’s economy due to country’s blocked transits with China.
Following this meeting, a bilateral meeting between the Nepali and Chinese delegations has begun. The 25-member Nepali delegation led by Minister Khadka includes high ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and secretaries of various other ministries. The 17-member Chinese delegation led by Foreign Minister Wang comprises Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wu Jianghao, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Sheng Qiuping, Director-General, the Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Liu Jinsong, Deputy Director-General, Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jiang Xiaoyan, Deputy Director-General, Protocol Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Song Jia and Secretary to State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang, Deng Zhi.
Nine different memorandum of understandings (MoU) would be signed between the two countries after the meeting. The MoU to be signed are related to financial and technical support, feasibility study of transmission lines, service to be provided by Chinese health workers in Nepal. Chinese Minister Wang is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba today itself at the latter’s official residence in Baluwatar.
Following this meeting, Minister Wang together with PM Deuba would virtually attend the completion ceremony of the Pokhara Regional International Airport. Similarly, Minister Khadka is hosting a dinner reception in honour of his Chinese counterpart Wang today evening.
