Two days after Prime Minister KP Oli’s briefing to  the international community, China on Thursday said that it appreciates the Nepal government’s pursuit of an independent foreign policy.

“The government of China will pursue an independent and balanced foreign policy,” Lu Kang, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said during a regular press briefing in Beijing. Asked to comment on Oli’s statement on pursuing balanced and independent foreign policy during the briefing where the PM also stated that Nepal will maintain friendly relations with India and China, the two neighbours of Nepal, Lu said: “China appreciates the Nepalese government’s pursuit of an independent foreign policy and supports Nepal’s development of friendly and cooperative relations with the neighbouring countries.”

China, Nepal, and India are important neighbours to each other and we hope the three sides can work together to strengthen positive interaction and achieve development beneficial to all the three, the spokesperson said.