Nepal welcomes Xi-Modi informal meeting, hopes for trilateral cooperation

Nepal has welcomed the upcoming informal meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying it will enhance trust between Nepal’s two giant neighbours, whose economic growth can be beneficial to Nepal.

“We are happy to know that the leaders from our neighbouring countries are going to have an informal meeting later this week. Being an immediate neighbour, Nepal welcomes such high-level engagements and dialogues between India and China,” Nepali Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali told a Chinese news agency on Tuesday.

“We hope the meeting will help to enhance goodwill and … trust between China and India. We want to see a trust-based partnership between our two immediate neighbouring countries,” he said, adding that Nepal expects to reap benefits from the rapid economic growth taking place in India and China.

The Chinese president will hold the informal meeting with the Indian prime minister in Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei Province, on Friday and Saturday.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the announcement Sunday, after talks with visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Beijing.

The Nepali foreign minister said Nepal always wishes for cordial relations between India and China.

With the world order evolving, India and China can play a bigger role in maintaining global peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

Gyawali said Nepal is always open and positive toward the concept of trilateral cooperation with India and China in many fields, including economic development.

He added that his country has prioritized connectivity projects such as cross-border railways, highways and transmission lines, as it is keen on developing a trans-Himalayan multidimensional transport network with Beijing.

Source: Xinhua

Abdullah
The Kootneeti South & South East Asia Team