KATHMANDU: Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives (HoR) Indira Ranamagar has said that Nepal has always valued its relation with China as a friendly neighbour and strategic partner, and a fellow developing country.

She said that our cooperation and friendship remains diverse from trade, investment, infrastructure and connectivity to culture, education, tourism and people to people exchange and also appreciated Chinese assistance for Nepal’s development endavours.

Addressing the closing ceremony for the series of celebrations of the 70th anniversary of China-Nepal diplomatic relations here today, she viewed that our bilateral relations should be deepened at the people to people levels in addition to the formal ties.

She said that the 70th anniversary is not only a moment to look back with pride but also an opportunity to look forward with the hope, and expressed satisfaction to the extent of our trouble-free relations.

Similarly, Zhou Pan, the Chargé d’affaires of Embassy of China in Kathmandu, said as long as China and Nepal continue to enhance mutual understanding and affinity through civilizational exchange, we will surely achieve mutual learning and understanding, flourish and prosper together, and promote the advancement of human civilization.

He said that the high-level exchanges between our two countries have maintained good momentum, charting the course for the development of China-Nepal relations. “Political mutual trust has been further consolidated, and we firmly support each other’s efforts to safeguard core interests,” the Chinese Charge de’ affaires said.

On the occasion, Zhou said that China’s recently unveiled 15th Five-Year Plan is highly aligned with Nepal’s national development strategy, and will bring great opportunities for Nepal’s sustainable development. “China stands ready to deepen exchange with Nepal on governance.

And we will also work together to advance practical cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, connectivity, agriculture, poverty alleviation, and youth development.”

“Practical cooperation in economy and trade has yielded fruitful results, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges have grown closer.

Small and beautiful livelihood projects benefit the peoples of our countries, and youth programs have been continuously deepening mutual affection,” Zhou stated adding that through concrete actions, China and Nepal demonstrate that the two countries will always remain close neighbors.

The ceremony organized coinciding the 70th Anniversary of China-Nepal Diplomatic Relations also witnessed an encounter with the Chinese cultural performances, exhibitions and others.

Ministers, political leaders, representatives of the diplomatic missions in Kathmandu, high-level government officials, university office-bearers, Chinese community in Nepal and others attended the programme.