Focus on intensifying relations: Envoy Acharya

From Lok Deep Thapa

Beijing, Feb 28: Royal Nepalese Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Rajeshore Acharya has said that the present State Visit to Nepal’s Northern neighbour by His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev will further strengthen the age-old relations and also help in expanding people to people relations. Ambassador Acharya made this comment while speaking to this correspondent on way to Beijing from Haikou on Wednesday evening.

Describing Nepal-China ties like that between two families, the Nepalese envoy said, "There have been regular exchange of visits between the high level officials of the two countries as they are close neighbours and the present State Visit of His Majesty can be taken as a return visit to the one made by the Chinese President to Nepal back in December 1996."

The Nepalese Ambassador emphasised that bilateral relations between Nepal and China had been very good since time immemorial and visits at the highest level will not only strengthen such good ties but also made it fruitful.

Ambassador Acharya also informed that during the official talks that will be held between officials of the two countries on Thursday, issues of mutual interest will be discussed. "Regional developments as well as recent international events will also be reviewed," he said.

The envoy expressed the belief that Nepal can learn a lot from the rapid economic progress that China has made in the past two decades. "Specially in the poverty eradication campaign, China has achieved unprecedented success. If around 1978, there were more than 250 million people under the poverty line now only 36 million people are poor", he informed. Acharya also said that China has built plenty of physical infrastructures needed for development and achieved success in other sectors like industries and agriculture too.

China has become self sufficient in food and it also exports goods to virtually all parts of the world. "There are many things Nepal can learn from these achievements of China and Nepalese experts, whey they come here, must be able to implement at home the things they have learnt".

Ambassador Acharya was also optimistic that the presence of business people and industrialists in the present State Visit would help tremendously in further promoting the trade ties between Nepal and China and also develop people to people relations.

The Nepalese envoy was of the view that the traditional friendship and respect that Nepal and China have for each other had been continued during his tenure and efforts must be made from both the sides to always keep intact such mutual trust and respect.

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