China has applauded Nepal Army’s role in the United Nations peacekeeping missions and pledged to support Nepal in enhancing its capacity in disaster management.

Talking to media persons at the Tribhuvan International Airport upon his arrival from China, Defence Minister Bal Krishna Khand said the Chinese side also looked forward to exchanging high-level visits of army personnel and boosting technical cooperation between the two countries. “The Chinese side acknowledged NA’s capability and perseverance shown in the UN peacekeeping missions,” Khand added.

Khand returned home on Monday after attending the seventh Xiangshan Forum in Beijing. The forum, which was held from October 10-12 and attended by over 60 countries, had the theme to “Build a New Type of International Relations through Security, Dialogue and Cooperation.”

The conference dwelt on security concerns in the international arena caused by terrorist activities. “We discussed ways to tackle them globally,” said Khand.

Chinese Minister for Defence Chang Wanquan is said to have expressed his support to Nepal’s recently promulgated constitution.

Underscoring Nepal’s intentions to reap benefits from a rapidly growing economy in China, Khand said he told his Chinese counterpart that the people of Nepal were eager to welcome the Chinese president to the country. “Before PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal met the Chinese president in Goa, I had extended our invitation to him through Chang. He assured me to pass the message to Xi the very day and pledged that the Chinese side, the Chinese president more so, was ready to visit Nepal at the earliest convenience,” Khand added.