Chinese members of the guard of honour hold Nepalese and Chinese flags ahead of a welcoming ceremony for Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandar at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 29, 2019. (MADOKA IKEGAMI / POOL / AFP)
BEIJING — Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Thursday congratulated Bimala Rai Paudyal on assuming office as Nepali foreign minister.
In his message, Qin said China and Nepal are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and waters.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1955, China-Nepal relations have all along stayed sound and stable and set a good example of peaceful coexistence, friendship and mutual assistance between countries, Qin said.
READ MORE: 'Nepal ready to work with China for regional peace, stability'
In 2019, the two heads of state elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity, he noted.
Qin said he stands ready to make joint efforts with Paudyal to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and make new contributions to the development of China-Nepal ties.