In December 2018, I was appointed the Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nepal. In more than 1,000 days and nights, I visited many places in Nepal, met people from all walks of life, enjoyed the beautiful snow mountains and lakes, and was also intoxicated by the unique and colorful cultural customs. Now, I am about to complete my tenure. I have been fortunate to witness the rapid development of China-Nepal relations in the past four years, participated in the glorious moment of head-of-state diplomacy, and promoted cooperation in various fields between China and Nepal. Every drop of my sweat is soaked in honor and pride.

In the past four years, China and Nepal have maintained close high-level exchanges. The political mutual trust has continuously been consolidated. In 2019, Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, paid a historic state visit to Nepal. In the same year, Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal, visited China and attended the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. This was the first time that the two heads of state have exchanged visits within a year. The leaders agreed to build the Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, and reached an important consensus on jointly building the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network to help Nepal transition from a "land-locked" to a "land-linked" country.

After the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, President Xi Jinping had two phone conversations with President Bhandari to promote the building of a community of health between China and Nepal, and highlighted the spirit of sticking together through thick and thin. In December 2020, President Xi Jinping and President Bhandari exchanged letters to jointly announce the new height of Mount Qomolangma/Sagarmatha at 8848.86 meters. We were pleasantly surprised to find that she has grown taller, which vividly illustrates that the friendship between China and Nepal cannot be limited, but only gets higher. The professional and technical personnel of the two countries worked together to measure Mount Qomolangma/Sagarmatha, which once again showed to the world that we have a common border of peace.

Not long ago, Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, visited Nepal. It was the highest-level visit between China and Nepal after the Covid-19 pandemic, which once again showed the great importance China attaches to Nepal. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, visited Nepal twice and exchanged visits with Narayan Khadka, Foreign Minister of Nepal, promoting the development of China-Nepal cooperation in various fields. Wei Fenghe, State Councilor and Defense Minister of China visited Nepal to promote defense cooperation between China and Nepal. Many Nepali leaders attended bilateral and multilateral diplomatic activities held by China in various ways. Political parties, government departments and local-level bodies of the two countries maintain frequent exchanges, with views-exchanging, coordination and cooperation on issues of common concern.

In the past four years, China and Nepal have firmly supported each other and defended common interests. No matter how the international and regional situation changes, we firmly adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, always understand issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, and give each other valuable support. China firmly supports Nepal in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, exploring a development path that suits its own national conditions, and improving the lives of the Nepali people and the revitalization of the country. The Nepali side firmly adheres to the one-China policy, upholds justice on issues related to China's core interests such as Taiwan, Xizang, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and human rights, opposes interference in other countries' internal affairs under any pretext, and reiterates many times that Nepal will never allow any activities that use Nepal's territory to oppose China and undermine China's interests. China-Nepal friendship has weathered many tests and became rock solid.

In the past four years, China and Nepal have achieved fruitful results in the Belt and Road Initiative. "China-Nepal Lifeline" Araniko Highway Long-Term Opening Maintenance Project (Phase III), First Phase of Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project and other projects were successfully completed, and the construction or renovation projects of Tribhuvan International Airport, Gautam Buddha International Airport, and Pokhara International Airport were successfully delivered. The Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project and the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower station have been connected to the power grid for power generation, and the China-Nepal cross-border railway and power grid interconnection have entered the feasibility study stage. The Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network has been consistently enriched and expanded. I have visited the sites of the above-mentioned projects and witnessed the opening and completion ceremonies. I was delighted to find that there were large projects built or constructed by the Chinese side in various places in Nepal, with many of them listed as "National Pride Projects". China has participated in the Post-Earthquake Rebuilding Projects in Nepal continuously, and handed over 10 such projects. These achievements have been acquired by thousands of Chinese engineers and technicians’ efforts, who have overcome difficulties such as the geographical environment and the pandemic. I deeply admire them.

In the past four years, China-Nepal economic, trade and investment cooperation has grown against adversity. China is Nepal's second largest trading partner. In 2021, the trade volume between China and Nepal reached $1.977 billion, and Nepal's exports to China increased by 63 percent year-on-year. China is actively expanding imports from Nepal, and provides zero-tariff treatment to 98 percent of Nepali products, which covers all Nepali goods exported to China. The Chinese side helps Nepali enterprises participate in the China International Import Expo and the China-South Asia Expo. The two countries have signed agreements on the export of citrus, haylage and other products to China.

China is Nepal's largest source of foreign investment, and a number of Chinese-invested projects such as the Upper Marsyangdi Hydropower Project, Nepal Hongshi Shivam Cement Project, and Huaxin Cement (Production Line Project) have come into operation. China has tried its best to ensure smooth operation of ports between the two countries, and actively enhance the capacity of goods transit. At present, the two sides are maintaining close communication on the resumption of two-way transport at the ports, and actively promoting the early implementation of the Protocol on Implementing the Agreement on the Transit and Transportation to help Nepal expand exports.

In the past four years, people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Nepal have been in full swing. When I visited places in Nepal, I often met Nepali friends who could speak Chinese or had studied and traveled in China. They greeted me warmly in Chinese and told me what they had seen and heard in China. Not long ago, Satya Mohan Joshi, a great master of Nepali literature, sadly passed away. I still remember when I went to bless him on his 100th birthday, and the centenarian kept writing, showing me Chairman Mao Zedong's poetry anthology that he was translating, and detailing his indissoluble love for China. In recent years, the scale, scope and level of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Nepal have continuously improved and local exchanges have been active. Local leaders from Xizang Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province and other provinces have visited Nepal, making important contributions to joint construction of the BRI projects and promotion of people-to-people bonds.

The Chinese Embassy in Nepal has successively held such activities as "Happy Chinese New Year" and "Chinese Movie Festival". Every year, we carry out such brand projects as "Chinese Ambassador Scholarship", "China in My Mind" painting competition and "Panda Book Corner" in Nepal’s primary and secondary schools. China provides hundreds of government scholarships to Nepal every year, and holds Chinese language promotion activities such as Chinese song contests and video collections. The Chinese songs sung by the students of the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University still ring in my ears. I also love Nepali arts and culture. I had diplomats in the embassy perform Nepali dances and sing songs, and took beautiful photos in red dresses at the ancient Durbar Square to help promote Nepali tourism. The love and praise from the Nepali people make me feel the warmth and power of cultural exchanges.

In the past four years, China-Nepal defense and security cooperation has deepened. The special forces of the two militaries held the "Sagarmatha Friendship" joint exercise, and cooperated closely in United Nations peacekeeping, personnel training, humanitarian relief and other aspects. The Chinese People's Liberation Army has provided emergency assistance, including vaccines, to the Nepali Army to help it prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic. The law enforcement departments of China and Nepal have worked together to repatriate Chinese fugitives on Interpol red notices and actively crack down on criminal activities such as telecommunication frauds.

In the past four years, China and Nepal have maintained close communication on multilateral forums such as the United Nations, firmly safeguarded the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, practiced true multilateralism and economic globalization, opposed unilateralism and power bullying and Cold War mentality, safeguarded the common interests of the vast number of developing countries, and made positive contributions to the peace, security and development of the region and the world.

At the beginning of 2020, the outbreak of the once-in-a-century Covid-19 pandemic brought difficulties to our cooperation in the above fields. However, it is gratifying to note that the traditional friendship between China and Nepal has been further consolidated and strengthened during the joint fights against difficulties. We will never forget that after the first confirmed case of Covid-19 was reported in Wuhan, China, Nepali friends made every effort to collect masks for China, and Nepali friendly organizations and students prayed for the Chinese people. As the Chinese proverb says, "Every drop of water will be rewarded by the spring", after Nepal was deeply affected by the pandemic, China has provided a large number of medical supplies and nearly 24 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal. Especially when Nepal was hit by the second wave, China provided Nepal with emergency assistance such as oxygen generators, oxygen tanks, liquid oxygen and other materials, and built a life corridor across the Himalayas.

On October 22, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China concluded successfully in Beijing. The conference reviewed the work of the past five years and the great changes taking place in the first decade of the new era, and elaborated on the new frontier in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, the Chinese features and essential requirements of Chinese modernization, and other major issues. It has strategic plans for building China into a modern socialist country in all aspects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, thus charting the course for continued progress in advancing the cause of the Party and the country on the new journey to achieve the Second Centenary Goal and establish a guide to action.

The important report made by General Secretary Xi Jinping to the Congress on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee is a political declaration and a program of action for the party to bring together and lead the people of all ethnic groups in securing new success for socialism with Chinese characteristics and a programmatic Marxist document. The Congress unanimously agreed that the new developments in ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’ should be incorporated into the party constitution, and elected the new central leadership collective with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core. We firmly believe that the decisions and arrangements made at and the achievements of the 20th CPC National Congress will play a very important role in making China a modern socialist country in all aspects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, on the road to a win for socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Nepal will hold general elections next month, and a new government will soon be formed. Both countries are standing at a new historical starting point. I firmly believe that as long as the two countries have the sincerity to enhance political mutual trust, the commitment to deepen practical cooperation, the confidence to jointly build the BRI, the sincerity to achieve close people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and the perseverance to work together to build a community of shared future for mankind, the Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity between China and Nepal will continue to reach new levels.

On the occasion of my departure, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Nepali friends, all Chinese compatriots in Nepal, and people from all walks of life who care about and support China-Nepal friendship. I feel lucky that I was able to come to our friendly and beautiful neighboring Nepal as an envoy.

It is hard to forget the mellow and sweet taste of Juju dhau of Bhaktapur, the gorgeous and magnificent sunset of Machhapuchhare, the warm and harmonious moment when giving Tika to Nepali colleagues during Dashain, and the warmth and joy when dancing with Nepali songs on Women's Day. I will always cherish the profound friendship I forged with friends from all walks of life during my stay in Nepal.

Finally, I sincerely wish China and Nepal prosperity and long-lasting friendship.

The author is China’s ambassador to Nepal.