KATHMANDU: A courtesy meeting between Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and visiting Chief of the Chinese National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, Li Zhanshu, has kicked off a while ago.

The meeting is going on at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed his regards to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang through Chairman Li.

Prime Minister Deuba also expressed his condolences to those who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake that occurred in China’s Sichuan Province a few days ago.

The Prime Minister also expressed his belief that the friendly relations between Nepal and China would further strengthen in the coming days.

In response, Chairman Li said that Prime Minister Deuba’s condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan showed the close relationship between China and Nepal.

Li, who arrived Nepal on Monday on a four-day official visit, had earlier held meetings with National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Puhspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Khadka.