Kathmandu, 30 Aug: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has proposed to Chinese President Xi Jinping to help Nepal become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). He made this proposal to President Xi during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Beijing on Saturday.
He had a bilateral meeting in Beijing on Saturday while on his way to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
President Xi has expressed a positive view on Prime Minister Oli’s proposal.
“China is ready to cooperate with Nepal in multilateral forums including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” said a statement issued by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing, quoting President Xi.
President Xi said his country is always ready to help Nepal on its journey to prosperity. He expressed his commitment to supporting Nepal’s development efforts.
He said that the friendship between the two countries has been further strengthened as Nepal-China relations are based on the ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence’.
President Xi mentioned that he will support Nepal in fulfilling its aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Oli urged the early implementation of projects and programs under the BRI that had already been agreed upon between Nepal and China.
In response, President Xi thanked Nepal for its strong commitment to the ‘One China Policy’ and reiterated his commitment to quickly implement the projects under the BRI agreed upon between Nepal and China.
Prime Minister Oli had drawn attention to the need for China’s cooperation with Xi in fertilizer, petroleum exploration, human resource development, increasing climate resilience, and expanding people-to-people ties.
During the meeting, both leaders discussed various aspects of Nepal-China relations and pledged to advance mutually beneficial cooperation in the future, the statement said.
Prime Minister Oli expressed gratitude for China’s continued support for Nepal’s development efforts and wished the success of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
Oli also informed Chinese President Xi about Nepal’s strong objection to the recent agreement between India and China to trade through Lipulek. He clarified that the territory belongs to Nepal and stated that the Nepal government has registered its strong protest, according to a statement issued by the embassy.
Prime Minister Oli and his team arrived in Tianjin this afternoon. They were welcomed by high-ranking Chinese officials at Tianjin Binhai International Airport.
Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet with various world leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. On Sunday, Prime Minister Oli will also attend a reception and cultural program hosted by President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan.
