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China to increase economic and security cooperation with Nepal

Other News Materials 3 December 2008 11:36 (UTC +04:00)

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Wednesday promised to increase aid and security cooperation with Nepal, but raised concerns over the activities of Tibetan exiles in the Himalayan nation, reported dpa.

The promise of increased assistance to Nepal came during bilateral talks between Nepalese Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav and the visiting Chinese minister in Kathmandu.

The Nepalese foreign minister told reporters that the two countries had signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation.

"Under the agreement, China will provide Nepal with 1.2 billion rupees (15 million dollars) in assistance this year," Yadav said after the meeting. "In addition, China also indicated positively to providing 200 million dollars in soft loans."

China also agreed to support Nepal's efforts to boost security by providing training and equipment, Yadav said.

"The details of Chinese support for the security sector will be worked out when the deputy chief of the People's Liberation Army visits Nepal on December 6," Yadav said.

The Chinese foreign minister expressed concerns over the anti-China activities by Tibetan exiles in Nepal but expressed satisfaction over Nepal's efforts to contain them, Yadav said.

"China praised Nepal's efforts to curtail anti-China activities by Tibetan refugees in the country as well as Nepal's one China policy," Yadav said.

The two countries also talked about tourism promotion and ways to boost bilateral trade.

During his meeting with Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang extended an invitation to visit China.

"The visit to China by the Nepalese prime minister next year will be a success," Yang told reporters.

The visit is being followed with heightened interest in Nepal. It comes barely a week after a similar visit by Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Yang is the first Chinese foreign minister to visit Nepal since 2005.

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