KATHMANDU, Oct. 14 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded visit to Nepal will boost the friendship between the two neighboring countries and elevate bilateral relations, Nepali scholar Yubaraj Sangroula told Xinhua Sunday.

Sangroula, a professor with the Purbanchal University, also expected the visit to bring more opportunities for the economic and social development in Nepal.

"Nepal and China are good neighbors and friends," he said. "We have been good friends and we will remain good friends."

Xi's visit would open a new chapter for the two countries' relations, he said, adding "his visit is a prelude to development in the next 20 years."

Sangroula, who is the former attorney general of Nepal, now chairs the Kathmandu School of Law and has researched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

He said that since Nepal and China signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation within the BRI framework in 2017, bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges has been deepened at a fast pace.

Achievements of the cooperation could be seen everywhere, he noted, from made-in-China products used by Nepalis in their daily life, to the jobs created thanks to Chinese investments, to the agriculture, telecom and infrastructure construction sectors using Chinese technology.

More people are learning Chinese now, including himself, Sangroula said. "Nepal could really benefit from China's development."

China and Nepal agreed on Saturday to upgrade their relations to a strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity.

Sangroula believed that Xi's visit could deepen Nepal's participation in the BRI, bring opportunities to his country and boost its development.

Though being a small country, Nepal "contains immensely bigger natural resources," he said.

The trans-Himalayan connectivity network, a gigantic infrastructure program undertaken by the two countries, could help upgrade the roads, railway system and aviation in Nepal, and better logistics would then benefit the agriculture and industry sectors, improve economic structure and boost export, he told Xinhua.

"Developing the China-Nepal economic corridor is considered immensely vital for transforming Nepal into an economically developed nation and dependable neighbour," said the professor, adding that Nepal could be a bridge between China and South Asia for regional development.

Talking about the BRI, he said: "it is the most precious gift given by China to the world," suggesting that the Nepali government put forward more plans to seize the opportunities that the BRI generates for rapid development.

"Nepal's future is bright if the Nepalese people stand together and work for their prosperity by taking advantage of China's mammoth economic development," he said.