Premier Li Keqiang stressed friendship consolidation, mutual beneficial cooperation, and mutual development between China and Nepal during a meeting with Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 21.

The Nepalese prime minister is paying an official visit to China and will attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan province.

Premier Li Keqiang said that China and Nepal are neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. Since establishing diplomatic relations, the two countries have been treating each other with respect and equality, setting an example of harmonious and mutually beneficial and cooperative relations for neighboring countries.

The Premier said that China appreciates Nepal’s adherence to the one-China policy and unswervingly supports Nepal’s efforts in maintaining sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

China will not intervene in Nepal’s internal affairs and will support its people’s choice of development. China would like to see a Nepal with peace and prosperity and cooperate with Nepal in strengthening political mutual trust, enhancing exchanges of all dimensions, expanding mutual and regional cooperation, promoting communication, coordination, and cooperation in international and regional affairs, facilitating mutual development, and maintaining regional stability and world peace.

He said China is willing to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with Nepal in key sectors and promote interconnection and construction of cross-border infrastructure, cross-border transportation, and cross-border cooperation zone.

China will take Nepal’s reconstruction in the aftermath of the earthquake as an opportunity in capacity cooperation, strengthening cooperation in building materials, hydraulic and hydro-power development, and organic agriculture. China will expand cooperation with Nepal in petroleum product trade, oil-gas exploration and refining, and renewable energy.

Efforts will be made to promote mutual trade diversity and sustainable development, and feasibility study of bilateral free-trade agreement. China will encourage eligible Chinese banks to set up branch offices in Nepal, offering convenience and support for the country.

Efforts will also be made to expand cultural and educational exchanges, strengthen law enforcement communication and cooperation, combat illegal border crossings and cross-border crimes, maintain border and regional peace and stability, and promote prosperous development, he said.

Oli said that the China-Nepal friendship, an example for relations among countries with different systems and sizes, is solid and will not be affected by any external influence.

China-Nepal cooperation in all dimensions is based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and the two countries respect each other’s core interests. Nepal adheres to its one-China policy and will not allow on its territory any activities that would harm China’s interests.

Nepal appreciates China’s consistent support in Nepal’s efforts to maintain independence and promote development. It also appreciates China’s neighboring foreign policies that are defined by friendliness, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and wishes China to successfully implement its 13th Five-Year Plan.

Nepal would like to benefit from China’s peaceful development, maintain high-level exchanges, participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthen cooperation in sectors such as basic infrastructure, energy, agriculture, finance, cross-border trade, tourism, and education, promoting a continuous development of China-Nepal relations, Oli said.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several documents of bilateral cooperation in the sectors of transport, cross-border trade, energy, and finance. During Oli’s visit in China, the two countries will issue a joint statement.