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Chinese Defense Minister Begins Visit to Nepal
Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian arrived in Kathmandu Wednesday for a four-day official goodwill visit to Nepal.
Chi, also vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission and state councilor, came here at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Mahesh Acharya.
In a written statement delivered at the airport, Chi said over the 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, good-neighborliness and cooperative friendship between the two countries, based on the five principles of peaceful co-existence, "have made progress and withstood the test of thick and thin".
"Further promoting Sino-Nepalese friendship in the new century not only serves the fundamental interest of the two peoples, but also contributes to peace and stability in the region," Chi said.
Chi added that during his visit to Nepal, he will exchange views with Nepalese leaders on the cementing of bilateral relations between the two countries and two armies in the new century and other issues of shared interest.
"I believe that my visit will help promote the lasting stability, good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation between our two countries in the new century," he said.
A welcome ceremony was held at the airport attended by the Nepalese Defense Minister Mahesh Acharya and other high-ranking governmental and military officials.
Nepal is the last leg of Chi's four-nation Asian tour, which also included Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
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