KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha asserted that special attention should be paid to matters of bilateral interest so as to further strengthen Nepal-China relations.

DPM Shrestha, who is currently in Chengdu in China on his five-day official visit, said so delivering his remarks in a program organized by Sichuan University today.

Stressing on 6 Cs namely critical thinking, creativity, credible policies and actions, commitment, and collaborative approaches among others to make Nepal-China relations further deeper in the years to come, Shrestha viewed that Nepal-China relations demanded more vibrant, result-oriented, and pragmatic cooperation to further vitalize the synergy between the two countries.

DPM Shrestha, who arrived in Chengdu last Wednesday leading a seven-member delegation, further opined, “Nepal-China relations are enriched with a plethora of instances of historical and civilizational links as well as the foresight and visions of our leaders. Yet, much is to be done.”

He argued, “To elevate our relations to a new stage, we can lay due emphasis on comprehensive development partnership, connectivity, commerce and investment, cultural exchange, cultural exchanges and collaboration in community level and other bilateral issues among others for shared prosperity.”

Despite attaching high priority and emphasis on economic development, he said, Nepal had been facing difficulties in poverty alleviation and economic development due to a lack of enough resources and quality infrastructures.

He, thus, sought China’s support in the areas of agriculture, industries, and physical infrastructures among others.

Stating that Nepal had a huge potential for hydropower, DPM Shrestha indicated the possibility of Nepal exporting hydropower energy to China. “For this, China can make investments in Nepal for generating hydropower electricity and import it by creating proper infrastructures like cross-border transmission lines.”

According to him, Nepal-China relations were not only linked by common mountains and rivers but also by shared cultures and ethos of life. Thus he suggested that in order to revive and give further impetus to cultural relations between the two countries at the people-to-people level, the two countries could encourage each others’ citizens to learn others’ languages, political and social systems, lifestyles, cultures, and arts among others.

DPM Shrestha expressed his confidence that religious tourism could be promoted between the two countries since the people of both countries had high regard for Lord Buddha’s teaching and philosophies and Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

He recalled how the two countries maintained trade relations in the historic era by establishing the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa before Nepal and China established diplomatic relations in 1955.

“China is the second-largest trading partner of Nepal accounting for more than 14 percent of its total trade. China has become the largest FDI provider to Nepal,” shared the DPM, indicating towards the immense potential for the two countries to deepen their cooperation in trade and investment.

Stressing on enhanced level of connectivity between the two countries, he urged the Chinese side to consider the operation of commercial flights to Pokhara and Bhairahawa.

Expressing his happiness over Sichuan Airlines conducting its maiden international commercial flight at Pokhara International Airport last week, he said, “We have duly emphasized the need to air connectivity between Kathmandu and different cities in China, apart from Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. We are confident that there would be regular commercial flights between Pokhara and Chengdu.”

Recalling that Nepal and China had focused on trans-Himalayan multifaceted connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI), Shrestha asserted,” We have focused on railways, highways, airways, transmission lines, ports and all other types of communication networks between the two countries.

On a different note, the DPM said that both countries had deep faith in the five principles of peaceful co-existence and principles of non-interference in each other’s internal matters, he said, “Our two countries respect each other sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national independence.”

He reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to China’s One-China policy and maintained that Nepal had been exercising the policy of not allowing its soil to be used against our neighbors.

Toward the end of his speech, DPM Shrestha reaffirmed Nepal’s willingness to cooperate with China for common prosperity and a better-shared future.