China fully supports Nepal’s economic and social growth under the principle of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong has said.

Addressing an event organised to mark the 69th National Day of the People’s Republic of China in Kathmandu on Friday, the Chinese envoy said that China was an important development partner of Nepal, particularly in the fields of infrastructure, energy development, agriculture, technology, education, culture, tourism, capacity building and disaster prevention and mitigation.

“With efforts from both sides, China-Nepal relationship has further strengthened since the beginning of this year,” said Yu.

The Chinese envoy added that the two sides will continue strengthening their relations under the Belt and Road Initiative and build the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network. She marked the signing of a number of Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement and consensus on the Protocol of Transit Transport Agreement as the major achievement to foster the relationship between the two nations.

China’s economy has grown at an average annual rate of 9.5 percent in the past 40 years, developing the country from a low-income to an upper-medium-income country, according to Yu. She added that China contributes to more than 30 percent of the global economic growth and has become an important power house for the global economy. “China will firmly uphold a multilateral trade system, will continue promoting new types of international relations with a shared future for mankind and promote the cause of human progress,” she added.