Photo: VCG

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that, as South Asia is being hit by a new wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, China will continue to provide as much support as possible for Nepal's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing medical supplies, equipment and vaccines, and sharing experience in combating and treating the virus.

Xi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Nepali President, Bidhya Devi Bhandari. 

Xi said he believed that the Nepali people will surely win the final victory over the virus.

Recalling that he and Bhandari jointly announced the new height of Mount Qomolangma in December last year, Xi stressed that China attaches great importance to the development of its relations with Nepal and is ready to share development opportunities with its neighbor.

He called for concerted efforts to accelerate Belt and Road cooperation, steadily advance the building of the trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, and continuously lift the two countries' strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity to higher levels.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations, Xi said that China will never forget Nepal's valuable support and will always provide support to Nepal in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, respect Nepal's independent choice of development path and support its economic and social development.

China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks, firmly uphold multilateralism, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, Xi noted.

Bhandari sent warm congratulations on behalf of the Nepali government and people in the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). 

She said that, under the strong leadership of the CPC, China's economic and social development, particularly in terms of poverty alleviation and space exploration, has made remarkable achievements. She believes that China will continue to achieve greater success on the path of peaceful development under the leadership of the CPC.

Nepal and China have been strategic partners with ever-lasting friendship, Bhandari said, noting that her country attaches great significance to relations with China, resolutely adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Nepal will never allow any force to use its territory for any anti-China activities.

Bhandari expressed gratitude to China for the support provided in the fight against COVID-19. She said she would like to work with China to promote the development of bilateral relations and move forward to achieve common development and lasting prosperity.

To help Nepal fight the latest surge of COVID-19 infections, China has so far shipped 2,000 oxygen cylinders and 10 ventilators to Nepal, in addition to 200 oxygen generators from Chinese companies in the country, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on May 18. 

The first batch of medical supplies has arrived at Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and Chinese firms in the South Asian country also donated 200 oxygen generators, the Chinese ambassador said. 

In the latest sign of ever-consolidated bilateral ties, on Monday, the Consulate General of Nepal in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, was officially inaugurated in an opening ceremony held in the city.

During the opening remarks, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Ambassador of Nepal to China, expressed the hope that the establishment of the consulate would help promote all-round exchanges and bilateral cooperation, as well as contribute to further enhancing the friendly relations between Nepal and China, according to a press release from the Embassy of Nepal in China.