【CGTN】Nepali PM stresses importance of business ties with China

摘要：Wednesday is the third day of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's four-day official visit to China. In the afternoon, he delivered a ke

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli says business ties with China are integral to healthy bilateral relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Oli is in China for an official visit, which includes high-level meetings and the Nepal-China Business Summit. Our Cao Chufeng has this report.

Wednesday is the third day of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's four-day official visit to China. In the afternoon, he delivered a keynote speech at the Nepal-China Business Forum, in which he praised the strong relationship between the two nations.

KP SHARMA OLI, Nepal's Prime Minister "We are not only linked by mountains and rivers. But we are also connected by culture and situation on economic relations. Respect for sovereign equality, territory integrity, political independence, as well as mutual trust."

Seeking more investment from China and expanding business ties, these are some of the top priorities for Prime Minister Oli. On Tuesday, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Nine agreements have been signed between China and Nepal, with some of them focusing on enhancing business ties. Oli also encouraged businesses from both countries to deepen cooperation.

KP SHARMA OLI, Nepal's Prime Minister "I encourage the business community from both the countries to work together for mutual benefit, your increased collaboration and partnership will contribute to further enhancing our economic cooperation. I believe the private sector is the real engine of economic growth."

India, as Nepal's largest trading partner accounts for two-thirds of Nepal's international trade, whereas China, as the second largest, now accounts for about 14%. According to some experts, there's room for growth. Business organizations are also eager to expand the partnership.

CHANDRA PRASAD DHAKAL, President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry "Our export is very much low, if we compare with the import from China. So we need to export more items to China. Border connectivity also needs to be improved than what we already have."

ZHANG SHAOGANG, Vice Chairman, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade "From January to September this year, the trade volume between China and Nepal reached 1.58 billion US dollars, marking an 8.7% year-on-year increase, showcasing the great potential of bilateral economic and trade cooperation."

CAO CHUFENG, Beijing "Prime Minister Oli's visit to China is quite significant, as this marks his first foreign visit since taking on the role not long ago. And his presence at the business forum, is perhaps a signal that his nation is willing to build a stronger businesses tie with the world second largest economy. Cao Chufeng, CGTN, Beijing."

编辑：游万龙