Vice-Premier Wang Yang meets with Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar during his visit to the capital, Kathmandu, on Aug 15, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
KATHMANDU — Vice-Premier Wang Yang and Nepali Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar agreed on Aug 15 to make joint efforts to further advance pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.
Calling China and Nepal trustworthy friends and partners for cooperation of mutual benefit, Wang said China is willing to join hands with Nepal to implement consensus reached between leaders of the two neighbors so as to promote their pragmatic cooperation under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative.
The vice-premier called on the two sides to expand bilateral trade and investment, increase connectivity including construction of railways, roads and ports, and enhance cooperation in oil and gas, electricity and clean energy.
“China is ready to help Nepal increase its self-sufficiency of energy,” Wang said.
The vice-premier also urged the two countries to deepen people-to-people exchanges, cooperation between local governments, and collaboration in promoting Nepal’s tourism in China.
Wang said China will increase cooperation in healthcare with Nepal and conduct joint research on improving quality of drinking water in Nepali cities.
Expressing condolences and sympathies to victims of recent flood disasters in Nepal, Wang said China will continue to support Nepal in disaster prevention and reconstruction.
For his part, Gachhadar, who is also the minister for federal affairs and local development, said Nepal and China share a long history of friendship and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has made fruitful achievements.
Gachhadar expressed gratitude for the assistance that the Chinese side had offered to Nepal’s socio-economic development, especially assistance to the country’s disaster relief and reconstruction efforts.