Nepali Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey has said that his visit to China was crucial in further bolstering the diplomatic ties between the two countries and exploring possibilities of investment and trade, Radio Nepal reported Wednesday.

"The visit has been important in terms of strengthening the economic cooperation and boosting investment in social and cultural sectors," Pandey, who returned to Kathmandu from an 11-day tour to China Tuesday, was quoted by the state-run radio as saying.

"A Chinese team is arriving in Kathmandu very soon to study the possibilities of investment in Nepal," Pandey added.

During Pandey's visit, five agreements, including the 870 million Nepali rupees (US$12.42 million) Chinese budgetary support for the current Nepali fiscal year (July 16, 2005-July 15, 2006) and import of goods via Tibetan route, were signed.

While in Beijing, Pandey met with President Hu Jintao and foreign and cultural ministers. "I had the opportunity to describe the contemporary situation in Nepal," Pandey said.

Nepal and China marked the 50 anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2005)