Hon’ble Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha,
Your Excellency, Nepal Army Chief of Staff General Gaurav SJB Rana,
Your Excellency, Nepali Attorney General Mr. Pradhan,
Your Excellency, Inspector General Chief of Police Force Mr. Mr. Kuber Singh Rana,
Your Excellency, Inspector General Chief of Armed Police Force Mr. Kosh Raj Onta,
Your Excellency, Chief Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Mr. Paudel,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, My Dear Friend,
Good evening! Thank you for joining my reception tonight. As the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, I am going to finish my tenure and leave this beautiful country with reluctance.
My tenure of nearly two years has left me so many good memories. The fine black tea and delicious dessert Nepali friends served to me, their bright smiles and sincere greetings always make me feel at home. I have been deeply in love with Nepal, this beautiful country and her hospitable people. The beautiful memories of more than 600 days and nights will undoubtedly become an immeasurable treasure in my life and will accompany me in the future.
Looking back on the past two years, I am pleased to see that with our joint efforts, China-Nepal Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship has achieved considerable progress.
Politically, Chinese premier paid the first visit to Nepal last year after ten years. During Premier Wen Jiabao’s successful visit, the two sides reached broad consensus on strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture and other fields. The two governments issued a joint statement and made comprehensive planning for our bilateral relations, which has promoted China-Nepal relations to a new stage of comprehensive and rapid development.
Economically, the total bilateral trade volume approached two billion US dollars last year, an increase of nearly 70%. The number of zero-tariff products that China unilaterally has given to Nepal extended to 7787 items, which effectively has promoted the development of bilateral economy and trade. More than 20 Chinese enterprises are now investing in Nepal, with a hundred million US dollars' input. I am happy to see that some projects such as West Seti Hydropower Project, Pokhara International Airport, the upgrading of Kathmandu Ringroad have made positive progress.
Culturally, China Festival, Chinese Language Contest, China-Nepal Friendship Week, and exchange of visits of social and cultural groups have made the content of Year of China-Nepal Friendship Exchanges more substantial. Recently, the two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cultural cooperation and the establishment of the China Cultural Center in Nepal, which will also add new highlights to the cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Internationally, China and Nepal are both developing countries, and have same and similar positions in many international and regional issues. Both sides have good coordination and cooperation in the international arena. China and Nepal share the common views and positions on building a harmonious world and achieving win-win development, so we have a much wider space for cooperation.
As Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, I am pleased for the flourishing development of China-Nepal relations, and proud for my involvement in strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. I am confident of the future of China-Nepal relations, since our relationship is built on the basis of ever-lasting friendship, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. China-Nepal cooperation, which serves the common and fundamental interests of both two countries and two peoples, will undoubtedly have a even brighter future.
During my tenure, I got valuable support and help from the Government of Nepal, political parties as well as Nepali friends and Chinese compatriots in Nepal. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you. There is a famous Chinese saying——"A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near." No matter where I am, I will always care about the development of China-Nepal relations. I am confident that China-Nepal friendship will last forever!
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,
I would like to thank you again for attending the reception. Now it is time to say goodbye. I look forward to meeting you again in the future.
Thank you!