Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Sunday extended the country’s support to China’s global security initiative as he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin.
Oli also pledged Nepal’s support to the Chinese government’s initiatives for global development and security and said Nepal is waiting for its northern neighbour to play a bigger role in international affairs.
On Sunday, Oli had a brief meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following which PM Modi mentioned India’s friendship with Nepal as ”deep and very special.” Oli will be visiting India at Modi’s invitation on September 16.
In his meeting with President Xi Jinping on Saturday, Oli had raised objections to China reaching an understanding with India for constructing a road connecting Uttarakhand with Tibet through Lipulekh, a territory he said belonged to Nepal.
President Xi is believed to have advised Oli to sort it out bilaterally with India.
Oli said the Nepal-China ties have stood many tests, and added that Nepal looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.
“We will enhance cooperation with China on trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, tourism, climate response, and other fields and deliver more positive outcome,” he said.
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According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry release, Oli reiterated Nepal’s support to the One China Principle’, resolutely opposing Taiwanese Independence, pledging it will not allow any force to use its territory to undermine China’s interests.
Oli said Nepal valued the importance of the SCO and upheld the “Shanghai spirit”.
Nepal currently is a dialogue partner in the SCO and is keen on its elevation to the Observer position.
