Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday said he wants to push for a continued advancement of ties with Nepal as Beijing continues to shore up pro-China Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s grip on power.

In an exchange of congratulatory messages with his Nepali counterpart Bidhya Devi Bhandari on the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries, Xi said he was ready to work to bring greater benefits to the peoples of the neighbouring countries.

The Chinese President said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nepal relations and is willing to work with Bhandari to push for the continued advancement of the bilateral ties.

Xi, also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, said that since the establishment of the diplomatic ties, the two countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals.

Noting that he and Bhandari exchanged visits last year and elevated the bilateral ties to a strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship, Xi said the two sides have stood together through thick and thin in the fight against Covid-19 and have written a new chapter of friendship between China and Nepal, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Oli also exchanged greetings.

“Highlighting the deep-rooted cordial friendship since ages, the Prime Minister (Oli) underlined that Nepal has consistently maintained the ‘One China Policy’ and China has always respected Nepal’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence,” Nepal’s minister for foreign affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said. He appreciated the minister of foreign affairs Wang Yi’s role in strengthening bilateral ties.

Wang said his “willingness to work together with Gyawali to strengthen communication and cooperation, implement the important consensus reached between the leaders and make a positive contribution to the development of China-Nepal Strategic partnership of cooperation featuring friendship for development and prosperity”.