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| Kathmandu, Friday July 12, 2002 Ashadh 28, 2059. |
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No
anti-China activities will be allowed: HM Agencies
BEIJING, July 11 : His
Majesty King Gyanendra promised that Nepal would seek greater co-operation from China on
the sensitive issue of Tibet and not allow people inside his nation’s borders to
agitate against China, state media said Thursday.
King Gyanendra had made
the pledge Wednesday during a meeting with President Jiang Zemin on the first full day of
a six-day visit, the China Daily reported.
"(Nepal) will not
allow the emergence of elements running against the development of Nepalese-Chinese
ties," the paper said, quoting the King. "It will not permit within its borders
any activities that undermine China’s interests".
Tibet, the Autonomous
Region of China, which shares about 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) of border with Nepal, is
of particular importance in bilateral relations. About 35,000 Tibetan exiles have settled
in Nepal over the past decades, forming an ongoing concern for Beijing.
At the same meeting,
Jiang made a reverse pledge to offer "moral support" in Nepal’s struggle
with Maoist rebels, Nepal’s ambassador to Beijing said late Wednesday. "The
Chinese president said that China condemns terrorist actions taking place in Nepal,"
the AFP quoted Ambassador Rajeshwor Acharya as saying. "He said China stands firmly
in favour of His Majesty’s Government in fighting the terrorism".
Despite the
rebels’ reverence for communist China’s founder Mao Zedong, Beijing has
repeatedly repudiated the guerrillas and voiced support for Nepal’s crackdown on
them. Acharya, however, said no specific cooperation in the combat against the rebels had
been discussed in the meeting with Jiang. Meanwhile in a media briefing today, foreign
ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said China has no relationship with Maoists in Nepal.
Meanwhile, the King
today held talks with Premier of the People’s Republic of China Zhu Rongji, reported
RSS. Welcoming His Majesty the King, Premier Zhu Rongji said strong relations between
Nepal and China were developed during the time of His late Majesty King Birendra and
expressed confidence that this would be given continuity by His Majesty also.
China would extend
support in advancing Nepal’s economic programmes and to increase tourism in Nepal,
Zhu further said during the meeting.
According to Foreign
Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya who participated in the talks, Premier Zhu indicated that
China would help construct the Baglung-Beni-Jomsom road once the Rasuwa-Syafrubesi road is
completed.
His Majesty the King,
during the talks with the Chinese Premier, noted the co-operation China has been extending
in Nepal’s development and expressed confidence that co-operation would be extended
in tourism and the commercial sector also in the days to come.
China’s official
Xinhua News Agency reported that the Chinese President urged exchanges to be stepped up
among all levels of society. Apart from visits by top leaders, exchanges should be
increased between legislatures, political parties, industrial and commercial circles, the
press and non-governmental organisations, Chinese leader was quoted as saying during the
meeting today.
During meeting with His
Majesty the King Thursday at the Great Hall of the People, China’s Vice-president Hu
Jintao said China will work with Nepal along lines mapped out by the leaders of both the
countries, for ongoing friendship from generation to generation, Xinhua reported. Hu
pointed to Sino-Nepalese good neighbourliness dating back over 1,500 years and voiced his
pleasure at the strength of bilateral friendship which had withstood the test of changes
on both the domestic and international fronts.
During the meeting he
also expressed his appreciation for Nepalese government’s support and co-operation
with China in the past on the Tibet issue. Similarly, Xinhua quoted Li Peng, Chinese top
lawmaker, as saying that China would continue to offer support and assistance to its
neighbours and other developing countries. Li who is also the chairman of the Standing
Committee of the National People’s Congress made the remarks during his meeting with
His Majesty the King Thursday. During the meeting, Li said China’s NPC or parliament
greatly valued developing ties with the parliament of Nepal and other countries.
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