Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday said Nepal and China are close neighbours and reliable friends.

“Our relations stand on the solid foundation of the ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence’. We understand each other’s aspirations and sensitivities and extend support to each other in times of need in the spirit of true friendship,” said Prime Minister Dahal while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the First Chinese New Year celebrations ‘Voices of Spring. Golden Dreams’ in Nepal.

The prime minister said Nepal firmly adheres to the ‘One China Principle’.

“Our commitment is strong, unequivocal, straightforward, and unshakable. The change in domestic and external situations has not influenced and affected this principled position of Nepal,” he said. “Nepal recognises China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”

“We have already made our position clear on ‘Taiwan Independence’ in the joint statement issued during my recent visit to China.”

The prime minister said Nepal is committed not to allow any activities that are inimical to the interest of China.

“We oppose external interference in the internal affairs of a country. Likewise, China also always stands firm in respect of Nepal’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and dignity,” he said.

Dahal said civilisations in Nepal and China are connected not only by rivers and mountains but also by shared culture and people-to-people contacts.

Recalling his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his official visit to China in September last year, the prime minister said he was glad to learn that agreements and consensus reached during the visit are being gradually implemented.

“I would like to underscore that our common path is to promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and make an effort to build a community with a shared future for humankind,” he said.

“While the world we are living in today is undergoing profound and complex changes in recent times, it is cultural fabrics, social cohesion and human affiliations that closely connect us. I am confident, these connections between Nepal and China shall grow from strength to strength in the coming days.”