\u201cThese efforts aim to help Nepal transform from a landlocked country to a land-linked country,\u201d says President Xi
\n BEIJING
\nPresident Xi Jinping on Tuesday told Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli that China will offer more support to develop the country\u2019s infrastructure, Chinese state media reported.
\nThe leader of the Himalayan republic was in Beijing on Tuesday to meet Chinese leaders, including Xi and Premier Li Qiang, seeking to expand infrastructure cooperation after breaking with the longstanding tradition of new leaders making their first official visit to neighbouring India.
\nOli has sought to walk a fine line between neighbours China and India, the world\u2019s two most populous nations, but has favoured Beijing in an effort to cut Kathmandu\u2019s historical reliance on New Delhi.
\nChina was ready to \u201cdeepen practical cooperation with Nepal, jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with high quality, and enhance connectivity in areas such as ports, transportation, power grids and telecommunications\u201d, the official Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying.
\n\u201cThese efforts aim to help Nepal transform from a landlocked country to a land-linked country,\u201d it added.
\nOli, who returned to power in July after two previous terms in the top job, arrived in Beijing on Monday evening to kick off the trip, which will last until Thursday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
\nBeijing\u2019s foreign ministry said last week that Xi and Oli would \u201chave in-depth exchanges of views on deepening our traditional friendship\u201d.
\nThat includes expanding cooperation under the BRI \u2014 Xi\u2019s flagship international infrastructure initiative \u2014 and \u201cexchanges and cooperation in various fields\u201d, ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
\nDeputy Secretary of Oli\u2019s Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) Pradeep Gyawali told AFP the visit would centre on prior investment deals \u2014 including for the recently finished construction of an international airport in tourist hub Pokhara.
\nNepali media reported that Oli likely chose Beijing as his first destination due to the absence of a formal invitation from New Delhi.
\nAnd its foreign ministry said he will \u201cexchange views on matters of mutual interest\u201d with his Chinese counterparts during the trip.
\nHe will also deliver a keynote address at China\u2019s prestigious Peking University and speak at a bilateral business forum, the ministry said.
\nIndia accounted for nearly 65% of Nepal\u2019s total trade in the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to customs data.
\nChina\u2019s trade share was about 15%, though Chinese companies lead in some industries \u2014 including a 70% share of Nepal\u2019s burgeoning electric vehicle market.
\nIndia has the highest foreign investment in Nepal, pumping in more than $750 million last year, with China investing more than $250 million, according to Nepal\u2019s central bank.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cThese efforts aim to help Nepal transform from a landlocked country to a land-linked country,\u201d says President Xi BEIJING President Xi Jinping on Tuesday told Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli that China will offer more support to develop the country\u2019s infrastructure, Chinese state media reported. The leader of the Himalayan republic was in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":447268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-447257","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n