Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Nepal tour

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Sunday that anyone who tries to divide China will be crushed.

He held extensive talks with the top leadership of Nepal here and the two countries extended their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership of cooperation and signed several agreements, including plans to lay a Trans Himalayan railway line.

During his meeting with Nepal’s President Vidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday, Xi Chinfing announced an aid of 56 billion Nepali rupees for Nepal’s development programs.

Xi is the first Chinese President to visit Nepal in the last 23 years. The Chinese President pledged to upgrade the Arnico highway connecting Kathmandu and Tatopani transit points. It was closed after the devastating earthquake of 2015 in Nepal.

He also pledged to open more border posts to increase connectivity. He said that a feasibility study for the Trans Himalayan Railway would be started soon and China would also help in the construction of the Kerung-Kathmandu tunnel route.

During his meeting with Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday, Xi said that anyone who tries to divide China will be crushed, according to reports from China’s official news agency Xinhua.

These comments came amidst Beijing’s pressure on Kathmandu to clamp down on Tibetan spiritual guru supporters in Nepal.

Nepal shares a long border with Tibet and around 20,000 exiled Tibetans live in this country. Beijing sees the Dalai, living in self-exile in India, as a separatist trying to divide China.

Oli said that Nepal fully supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity and stands firm towards a one-China policy. He said that both countries are true friends and partners.

In a joint statement, the two countries said that they have decided to extend their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership of cooperation.

The statement said that Nepal and China widely view the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as an opportunity to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields.

Xi also held talks with Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, co-chairman of Nepal Communist Party on Sunday. Xi described him as a good and old friend of the Chinese.