KATHMANDU: During a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli discussed the issue of Lipulekh, according to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

Amrit Bahadur Rai, Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs who was present at the meeting, stated that Oli explicitly expressed objection to any agreement between China and India to turn the Nepali territory of Lipulekh into a trade route.

The meeting also covered the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries, and both sides agreed that their respective mechanisms would take the lead in enhancing relations and collaboration in various areas.

Rai added that Oli reaffirmed that, according to the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, all territory east of the Mahakali River belongs to sovereign Nepal, and he expressed confidence that China would support Nepal on this matter.