KATHMANDU, June 24 -- The president and prime minister of Nepal on Wednesday expressed appreciation for the high-profile attendance by China at the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction to be held here on Thursday.

During their respective meetings with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here, President Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala also thanked China for its all-out support to Nepal after the devastating earthquakes in April and May.

They said that after the earthquake first took place on April 25, Chinese leaders, the central government, local governments and the Chinese people responded immediately by sending rescue and relief aid and support to Nepal.

Therefore, the Nepalese government and the Nepalese people are grateful from the bottom of their hearts for this, and it shows that China is Nepal's most reliable friend, closest neighbor and most trustworthy partner, they said.

The Nepalese leaders said they expect China to actively participate in the reconstruction of the country and make precious contributions to it.

Nepal will continue to seek mutual support to each other with China and further upgrade the overall cooperative partnership between the two countries, they said.

The Nepalese leaders also expressed condolences and sympathy over the losses of human lives and properties in the earthquake in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.

For his part, Wang Yi said China and Nepal are close and friendly neighbors whose relations are comparable to teeth and lips and featured with great interdependence.

He said this year's earthquake took place simultaneously in the two countries and the two sides have supported each other in overcoming the challenges.

He said China has given its support within its capabilities to Nepal in coping with the aftermath of the earthquakes and carrying out rescue and relief operation and it will coordinate closely with Nepal in its post-quake reconstruction by providing relevant support within its capabilities.

Wang hoped that with the common support of the international community, Nepal could take reconstruction as an opportunity to rebuild and transform its society and economy to a higher level to realize sustainable development.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Chinese foreign minister said, expressing his belief that the Sino- Nepalese traditional friendship will become more consolidated in the process of mutual help in fighting natural disasters and reconstruction.