KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba held a bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Hong Kong on Friday.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of a ceremonial event for the signing of a treaty concerning the establishment of an international organization for mediation, to which Nepal was invited as an observer. Minister Rana is in Hong Kong at the invitation of the Chinese government.

During the cordial meeting, the two ministers discussed a range of issues including bilateral relations, mutual interests, and matters of shared concern. The talks also touched upon the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China, which both countries are marking this year.

Minister Rana emphasized Nepal’s long-standing commitment to its friendship with China, expressing appreciation for China’s support in Nepal’s economic and social development over the years. She conveyed Nepal’s desire to continue receiving Chinese assistance in areas such as economic cooperation, technology transfer, and foreign direct investment.

Reaffirming Nepal’s adherence to the One-China Policy, Minister Rana assured her Chinese counterpart that Nepal will never allow its territory to be used against China. She also expressed gratitude for China’s participation in the recently concluded Sagarmatha Sambaad and praised the growing cooperation between the two nations.

The conversation also included a review of recent high-level visits, notably former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s official trip to China in December, 2024, and the progress on agreements signed during that visit.

In light of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Minister Rana extended an official invitation to Minister Wang to visit Nepal. She highlighted that the year 2025 is being celebrated as Nepal Visit Year and expressed Nepal’s willingness to welcome more Chinese tourists.

In response, Minister Wang congratulated Nepal on the successful organization of the Sagarmatha Sambaad and reiterated China’s readiness to collaborate with Nepal on climate action and environmental protection.

He also emphasized China’s commitment to continuing its support for Nepal and expressed willingness to work with Nepal through the newly proposed international mediation organization.

Minister Wang further called on the Government of Nepal to expedite the implementation of past bilateral agreements and expressed his acceptance of the invitation to visit Nepal.

He also extended a special invitation to Minister Rana to participate in China’s upcoming forum on global women’s leadership, acknowledging her role and initiatives in Nepal’s foreign policylandscape.