Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao Meet Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda

Mohan Nepali August 24, 2008

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday met Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), who reached China yesterday for attending the concluding ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on Sunday night.

In a half-an-hour meeting, President Jintao expressed Chinese support to Nepal’s peace process and development efforts. He is understood to have suggested Nepal’s Prime Minister Prachanda to lead the peace process and development work side by side.

Earlier on Sunday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met his Nepali counterpart Prachanda, the first prime minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, reported Xinhua News Agency.

In their meeting in Beijing, Chinese Premier Jiabao congratulated Prachanda for the Constituent Assembly elected him as the first prime minister in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

On the occasion, Chinese Premier Jiabao said that China believed Nepal would realize political stability and economic progress through joint efforts under Prachanda’s leadership. He also expressed his respect to the Nepalis’ choice.

Premier Jiabao, Xinhua quoted, said that Nepal and China were good neighbors and expressed his satisfaction at the current development of bilateral relations. He expressed China’s desire to further the reciprocal cooperation in various fields for benefiting the two peoples.

During their meeting, Premier Prachanda said, "Historic changes are taking place in Nepal's domestic situation. The Nepali government and people are striving for national stability and economic development, and hoped to get support and cooperation from China.”

Prachanda also made clear that Nepal would support Chinas’ efforts to maintain her national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

First published in www.nepalekhabar.com