Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal and China marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on Thursday, with top leaders of the two countries reaffirming their commitment to deepening friendship and cooperation across various sectors.
President Ram Chandra Paudel extended warm congratulations to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the government and the people of China. In his message, President Paudel highlighted the long-standing and time-tested Nepal-China friendship built on mutual trust, sovereign equality and peaceful coexistence. He expressed willingness to work closely with China to realize the shared vision of peace, progress and prosperity.
Similarly, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the deep-rooted ties of the two countries as neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. President Xi said China and Nepal have long set an example of friendly coexistence between countries of different sizes and systems. He pointed to growing political trust, Belt and Road cooperation, and the maturing of the China-Nepal Strategic Partnership of Cooperation, and expressed readiness to further advance bilateral cooperation for regional peace and development.
Nepal and China established diplomatic relations on August 1, 1955. Over the past seven decades, the two countries have built a comprehensive partnership anchored in political trust, development cooperation, and mutual respect.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also sent congratulatory messages to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. He praised the smooth and trouble-free evolution of Nepal-China relations over the past seven decades, rooted in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Similarly, Chinese Premier Li Qiang expressed readiness to work with Nepal to accelerate high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, also extended congratulatory messages on the occasion.
