Nepal formally opened its fourth diplomatic mission in China, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara inaugurating the country’s Consulate General Office in Guangzhou on Sunday. Nepal has its embassy in Beijing, while two other consulate general offices in Hong Kong and Lhasa.

Addressing a special ceremony, Minister Mahara extended gratitude to the Chinese government and Guangzhou’s provincial government for the support in establishing Nepal’s office.

DPM Mahara expressed his belief that the office will contribute in strengthening the Nepal–China bilateral relations and broaden the relations in the commercial sector, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Underlining the strong relations between Nepal and China’s Guangzhou province, Mahara expressed belief the establishment of the consulate will further economic and trade activities as well as the relations between the peoples of the two countries in the coming days. 

Welcoming the establishment of the consulate office, around 200 Nepali businessmen, who are engaged in various businesses in Guangzhou, said it would help resolve problems. 

The ceremony was attended by Nepal’s Ambassador to China Lilamani Poudel, officials from local provincial government, among others. At a function organised by the office later in the day, Ambassador Poudel called on Chinese firms to invest in Nepal.