PM Dahal meets his Chinese counterpart in Beijing

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Sunday and discussed the bilateral relations.

According to Xinhua news agency, Chinese PM Jiabao congratulated Prachanda on being elected as prime minister and said that China respected the social system and way of development Nepal had chosen according to its situation.

The new agency also quoted him as saying that China was in favour of political stability and economic development in Nepal through joint efforts of all political parties and under the leadership of Dahal.

Jiabao stressed on strengthening the Nepal-China relations established since centuries, noting that China would work with Nepal to further the reciprocal cooperation in various fields that would benefit the two peoples.

In response, PM Dahal said the friendship between China and Nepal had endured the test of time. "Historic changes are taking place in Nepal's domestic situation. The Nepali government and people are striving for national stability and economic development, and hoped to get support and cooperation from China," he said.

Dahal also repeated Nepal's stand in favour of China's efforts to maintain national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Dahal is scheduled to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao later today. nepalnews.com ia Aug 24 08