China values friendly relations and cooperation with all
countries in South Asia region, Chinese State Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan said in Kathmandu Friday.
"We value our friendly relations and cooperation with all
countries in the region and are working to advance cooperation and
promote common prosperity with them on the basis of the Five
Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," Tang said at the joint
reception given by the China Study Center of Nepal and the Chinese
Embassy in Nepal.
China sincerely hopes to see political stability, social harmony
and economic prosperity in South Asia, and amicable coexistence,
strong cooperation and common development among South Asian
countries, Tang said.
"We support the regional cooperation process, and are ready to
participate in this process at both the regional and sub-regional
level. We welcome the recent South Asia Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) summit decision to accept China as an observer
to the organization," Tang said.
China is ready to establish formal ties with SAARC at an early
date, and cooperate with it on the basis of equality and mutual
benefit, thus contribute to the regional cooperation process and
common development, he added.
Tang will meet with Nepali King Gyanendra on Friday afternoon.
Tang arrived in Kathmandu Thursday on a three-day official visit to
Nepal at the invitation of Vice-Chairman of the Council of
Ministers, Kirti Nidhi Bista.
(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2006)
