KATHMANDU: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi has said that Nepal should become a “demonstration garden” for friendly cooperation among countries, not a “fighting ring” for geopolitical games.

In an interview with Global Times, she said that China and Nepal have “carried out fruitful cooperation in infrastructure construction covering roads, airports, electric power and water conservancy.”

“This is due to the advantages of China, in terms of technology, experience and capital, as well as the fact that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers and geographically adjacent,” Ambassador Hou said.

She also attributed this to what she said Chinese peoples’ sincerity” and selfless toward the Nepalese people, supporting the friendship with Nepal without any conditions attached.

According to her, Nepal and China would jointly resist unilateralism and oppose power politics.

It can be said that there is no other country that can replace the advantages that China and Nepal have in the BRI cooperation, she added.

“I believe nothing can interfere with the great cooperation between the two countries,” the Chinese Ambassador said in the interview claiming that the people of Nepal have benefited and will continue to benefit from the BRI.

She also said that China’s support for Nepal was aimed at promoting Nepal’s economic and social development, improving the living standards of Nepali people, fully respecting its national sovereignty and dignity, while never interfering in Nepal’s internal affairs, and not competing with any other country, nor engaging in geopolitical games in Nepal.

“The Chinese side appreciates the Nepali side’s firm support for the global development initiative, and is willing to work with the Nepali side to accelerate the promotion of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” she added.

Ambassador Hou further stated that China would help Nepal “further improve the air transportation network, promote the development of Nepali air transport, tourism and other related industries, as well as facilitate economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchanges between the two countries.”

Stating that Nepal is China’s good neighbor and good friend, she added that the two neighbors have always respected each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and not interfering in each other’s internal affairs.

She has also stated that “while watching over each other and sharing a common destiny, setting a model for countries big and small to treat each other as equals and to cooperate for win-win results.”

At present, great changes unseen in a century are intertwined with a major epidemic rarely seen in this century.

While the international situation and landscape are rapidly evolving in depth, and world peace and development are facing new challenges, both China and Nepal are facing with the important task of fighting the epidemic and promoting economic and social development.