Nepal, China commemorate 57-year-long friendship

Nepali Vice President Parmananda Jha attributed the solid foundation of the 57-year-long Nepal- China friendship to deeply rooted relationship between the people of the two countries in a commemorating programmen on Saturday.

"Altruistic friendship between the people of Nepal and China has strengthened the national relationship between the two neighbors," Jha said. "The cultural, social and economic relationship between the two nations has become a model for the world."

As part of the "Nepal-China Relationship Year 2012", the programme is organized by World Cultural Net to mark the inaugural ceremony of the Nepal-China Relationship Week. Various exhibitions, photo galleries and traditional Chinese cultural arts are on display.

In the programme, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yang Houlan said that equality, harmony and self-less friendship were the basis for the "historic" Nepal-China relationship. He also remarked that Nepal was an important neighbor for China.

"The relationship between Nepal and China can be traced back to history and the friendship between the two nations has solid foundation. Nepal is an important neighbor for China and both the side should strive to further beef up this relationship."

Zhang Juxiang, Director of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, described the relationship between China and Nepal as "inseparable."

During his welcome speech for the programme, Juxiang said that since the establishment of Nepal-China relationship, both the countries have notably benefited in various sectors of development.

"Nepali architect Arniko visited China and shared his skills to build various pagoda-style buildings in China," said Juxiang, adding that his organization will continue to carry out various programmes to further fortify Nepal-China relationship.

During the programme, Vice President Jha launched the Nepali version of a poem collection by Chinese writer Lui Chen.