China hopes Nepal will soon achieve political reconciliation and develop its economy so that the Nepali people can live in peace, said Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in Beijing on Tuesday.

 

When meeting with visiting Nepali Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs KP Sharma Oli, Li said the Chinese government always pursues the principle of non-interference into other countries' domestic affairs, and respects the choice made by the Nepali people on their social system and way of development according to the situation of Nepal.

 

Li said China attaches high importance on the development of good-neighborly friendship with Nepal and is willing to work with the new Nepali government to further enhance bilateral relations.

 

The two countries, treating each other equally and sharing mutual trust and support, set a good example for friendship between countries with different social systems, Li said.

 

Li also expressed appreciation for Nepal's firm support on such issues as Tibet, Taiwan and human rights.

 

Oli said the new Nepali government highly values Nepal-China relations, and is grateful for China's long-term political support and economic assistance.

 

The Nepali government will "continue to adhere to the one-China policy" and will not allow "any foreign forces to conduct anti-China activities on the Nepali territory," he said, adding Nepal is willing to make joint efforts with China to push forward bilateral relations.

 

Oli is paying an official visit to China from August 26 to September 2 at the invitation of Li. Following his stay in Beijing Oli will visit Lhasa, Chengdu of Southwest China's Sichuan Province and the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in South China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2006)