China and Nepal celebrated the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties at a reception in Beijing Monday evening.

More than 300 guests, including Chinese government officials and foreign diplomats in China, attended the reception, which was co-hosted by the China-Nepal Friendship Association, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), and Nepalese embassy in China.

Chen Haosu, president of the CPAFFC, said in a speech that the years since China and Nepal forged diplomatic ties had witnessed continuous development of their traditional friendship and friendly cooperation as well as frequent high-level exchanges.

Political, economic, trade and cultural relations were closer than ever, Chen said.

The two nations, which treated each other on an equal footing, had harmonious coexistence and long-term friendship.

Nepalese Ambassador to China Tanka Prasad Karki said that Nepal and China, as good neighbors, all-weather and reliable friends, as well as partners of common development, had maintained sound bilateral ties.

Nepal wanted to further learn from China's experience in social and economic growth and enhance its mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

China and Nepal forged diplomatic ties in 1955. They established a comprehensive partnership of cooperation at the end of 2009.