China organised a programme in Kathmandu on Friday to mark its New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, on Friday. President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the programme by lighting a lamp at Hotel Yak and Yeti.

Leaders of various political parties including Secretary at Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Krishna Devkota, attended the event,  “China-Nepal Cross-Border Spring Festival”, that showcased various cultural shows.

Secretary Devkota expressed well wishes to Chinese and Nepali citizens on the occasion and hoped the New Year brought happiness to both countries.

“We are delighted at China’s economic development, social transformation and its influential presence in the world. Nepal, which is in now in the path of political stability after a prolonged transition, needs to learn from China’s development in its quest to prosperity,” he said.

Devkota said that Nepal wishes to welcome more Chinese tourists in 2020 which will be marked as Visit Nepal Year. “We believe that Chinese government will assist in our mission through a special campaign,” he said.

Addressing the programme, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong highlighted the achievements in Nepal-China relations in 2017. She said that China-Nepal trade increased by 11.2 percent in 2017 while Nepal signed the MoU on China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

Yu stated that China has become the largest investing partner in Nepal for the past two years. She congratulated Nepal on successfully holding the three-tier elections and said that China expects development in Nepal.

Deputy Director General of State Council of Information of China, Ling Li, said that China’s BRI project will help enhance the bilateral ties between Nepal and China and bring mutual achievements in the prosperity of the citizens of both the neighbours.