KATHMANDU — China and Nepal agreed on Aug 16 to boost bilateral pragmatic cooperation, especially under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, to further strengthen friendly ties between the two countries.

At a meeting with Vice-Premier Wang Yang, Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari expressed appreciation for China’s consistent support and assistance for Nepal’s national development and post-disaster reconstruction.

The president said the Nepalese government and people cherish the traditional friendship with China and the two countries have always been good neighbors and real friends sharing good and bad times over history.

The president pledged that Nepal supports the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by China and will actively participate in the initiative to further promote bilateral pragmatic cooperation for mutual benefit.

She noted that Nepal and China have maintained frequent high-level contacts and bilateral cooperation in various fields has been carrying on smoothly. She also pledged that Nepal sticks to the one-China policy and will never allow any anti-China activities taking place on Nepalese soil.

Wang Yang pledged that China will work together with Nepal to implement the important consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and Nepalese leaders, maintain close high-level contacts and strengthen political mutual trust.

He also promised that China will work together with Nepal to intensify bilateral pragmatic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen interconnection and intercommunication, maintain close coordination in international and regional affairs so as to push forward the traditional friendly ties.

Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba (R) meets with Vice-Premier Wang Yang in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aug. 16, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]

Also on Aug 16, Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba met with the vice-premier.

Deuba said his country has always attached great importance to developing relations with China and hoped to further strengthen the pragmatic cooperation between the two sides.

For his part, Wang said the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has vast potential for future and the two sides should further expand the scale of trade and investment, steadily push forward transport infrastructure construction and post-disaster reconstruction projects, broaden people-to-people exchanges in the sectors of agriculture and energy, boost people-to-people exchanges and seek closer cooperation in tourism, health care and human resources training.

During his visit to Nepal, the vice-premier has also met with Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, leaders of Nepalese political parties and representatives from Nepalese business and industry.