Kathmandu. Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nepal, Chen Song, has expressed the commitment of China to provide every possible support to the Government of Nepal for the successful completion of the general elections slated for March 5, 2026. The Chinese ambassador expressed satisfaction over the progress in bilateral cooperation projects, stating that there has also been significant progress of projects under the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’. During an interaction with the heads and editors of mainstream media on Friday evening, he said, “There has been progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade, investment, and the construction of industrial parks. It is not unusual for some projects to experience some delays.”
Ambassador Chen said that China is also working in close contact and coordination with the incumbent government in Nepal, and since this government has the ‘mandate’ of holding general election, they have prioritised the election in their work. The Chinese Ambassador stated that the five-year plan recently unveiled by China, while opening doors for economic development for all neighbours including Nepal, has been formulated according to Nepal’s requirements. “Work is in progress on a project to bring Nepalese agricultural products to the Chinese market, and our preparations have reached the final stage,” Ambassador Chen said while furnishing salient features of the five-year plan. He believes that these projects would prove to be a boon for China and Nepal. Reiterating that China’s desire is for Nepal’s political stability, development and prosperity, he stated that China is working closely with the interim government. While expressing that Nepal’s development has been slow due to the lack of strategic planning and reliable development partners, Ambassador Chen said that projects for Nepal’s development have also been included in China’s Five-Year Plan to help Nepal’s development. He added that projects to assist other neighbours have also been included in the 15th five-year plan.
The Chinese Ambassador expressed gratitude to successive governments of Nepal for consistently upholding the One-China Principle and for recognizing Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao as inseparable parts of China. He said China highly values Nepal’s firm and long-standing position on this matter and noted that the friendship between the two countries has always remained cordial. According to him, Nepali Gen Z leaders too have no differences on issues that affect China–Nepal relations. Responding to a question, the ambassador said China and Nepal have long been cooperating in international forums and both countries continue to support a United Nations-centered, rules-based international order. He also commented on contemporary political movements, stating that initiatives similar to Nepal’s recent Gen Z Movement had appeared in China before the establishment of modern China. He added that such movements should be understood within their respective national contexts, and in Nepal’s case the issues raised, including good governance, were aimed at bringing positive change with the nation at the center.
Ambassador Chen further outlined the focus of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, explaining that it seeks to strengthen the leadership of the Communist Party of China, prioritize the well-being of the people, achieve high-level development and raise per-capita income to 20,000 US dollars by the end of the plan period. He said the plan aims to ensure balanced development, expand China’s policy of openness, create new opportunities for cooperation, support the multilateral trading system, strengthen social governance with Chinese characteristics, and advance efforts toward national rejuvenation. —
