KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said its attention has been drawn to the media reports about the alleged construction of buildings by China within Nepali territory between Nepal-China boundary pillars number 11 and 12 at Humla district.

The Department of Survey, Government of Nepal, based on the official records, reports of the joint field inspection and boundary maps, has verified and confirmed that the said buildings are not located within the Nepali territory, the Ministry said today.

Stating that the matter of buildings in question also surfaced in some media in 2016, the Ministry said an inter-ministerial team after the field inspection had concluded that the said buildings were located approximately one kilometer inside the Chinese territory from the Nepal-China border.

“The boundary between Nepal and China was delineated and demarcated based on the Boundary Treaty and Boundary Protocols singed between the two countries,” a statement issued by the Ministry said today, adding that Nepal and China have always maintained close communication on border matters.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali today refuted media reports about the alleged encroachment of Nepali territory by China in Humla district.

He said that there was no dispute over territory between Nepal and China.

Speaking at a press conference organized to brief journalists about the cabinet decisions this evening, Minister Gyawali said that similar news about land encroachment from the Chinese side in Limi village in Humla had come out some four years ago.

“The government formed a probe committee to see if the news was true,” he said.

According to him, the committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Land Reform had later shown that the Chinese side had constructed buildings one kilometer away from the Nepal-China border.

He further stated that a team led by Chief District Officer of Humla is currently in Limi village.

“Details will be made available after his team returns to district headquarters,” Minister Gyawali said.