China’s defence minister Gen. Wei Fenghe on Sunday met Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli here and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and held talks with army chief Gen. Purna Chandra Thapa on ways to resume military cooperation and training impacted by the pandemic.

Wei’s visit comes days after India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla wrapped up his maiden two-day trip to Nepal. In the first week of November, Indian Army chief Gen. M.M. Naravane had paid a three-day visit to Nepal with the aim of resetting bilateral ties that had come under severe strain following a bitter border row between the two countries.

Gen. Wei held bilateral talks with Gen. Thapa at the army headquarters in Kathmandu during his day-long “working visit” to Nepal, said a statement issued by the Nepali Army.

“The two held a cordial discussion on various issues of bilateral interest,” it said. “Bilateral discussions were then held at the delegation-level mainly on issues pertaining to resumption of training and student exchange programmes and follow up on defence assistance that have been impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” the statement said.

The Chinese defence minister, who was leading a 21-member delegation, viewed both the proposals “positively and affirmed that the bilateral cooperation should resume as soon as possible, including exchange of high-level visits”, it said.

The Nepali Army expressed confidence that “the visit will help in further strengthening and expanding the cordial military-to-military relations between the two countries”.

The Chinese defence minister paid courtesy calls on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Oli, who also holds the defence portfolio.

“Views were exchanged on matters of mutual interest, including the further promotion of traditionally friendly relations between Nepal and China,” the Nepal ministry of foreign affairs said. Wei left for Beijing in the evening.

Wei told reporters that his visit was aimed at implementing bilateral understandings reached between the two governments in the past. He said his visit would promote military cooperation and take the existing friendly relations to a new height. “China and Nepal have been enjoying a strong, friendly and close relationship for a long time, and I am here to take that relationship to a greater height,” he said.
“I am confident that the visit would be result-oriented,” Wei said.