Beijing, July 11: China and Nepal have agreed to
enhance bilateral political ties and boost cooperation in
border trade, tourism and transportation, the state media
reported today.
"China and its western neighbour Nepal should and will
have still closer ties," Chinese president Jiang Zemin told
visiting Nepalese King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev here
yesterday.
Jiang, who is also general secretary of the ruling
Communist Party of China (CPC), encouraged more exchanges
between Tibet autonomous region and Nepal, 'China daily' said.
The two sides signed an agreement on trade and related
issues between the Tibet autonomous region and Nepal,
replacing an earlier treaty which had lapsed.
According to the agreement, the two sides will make full
use of the Lhasa-Kathmandu highway on a reciprocal basis to
improve passenger and cargo transport, and promote cooperation
between the two countries in trade, tourism and other fields.
It said that both sides should protect the safety of
nationals of either side and ensure their legal rights.
The agreement also includes measures to facilitate
pilgrimages and to protect wild animals and plants near the
Chinese-Nepalese border.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, it was the
second time that China and Nepal had signed such an agreement
on trade and related issues. The first such agreement was
signed in 1956.
Bureau Report
