Nepal eager to benefit from ties with China, India

KATHMANDU - Nepal's new Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has expressed his strong desire to take advantage from both fast developing neighbors China and India.

Taking to Xinhua in a most recent exclusive interview, his maiden one with an international news organization, Koirala said, "we want India and China to come closer to us to understand our development as well as our problems."

Koirala, Nepal's 37th prime minister, concluded that China and India share the same goal in Nepal -- to help Nepal, which is full of resources yet lagging behind.

According to the 75-year-old politician, India and China are engaged in talks regarding border issues. And he said he believed peace can be restored and Nepal will benefit from the gradually developing Sino-India relations.

Koirala reiterated that Nepal pledged not to turn its land into a platform to carry out activities against India and China that are very sensitive to their security.

"We comply with One-China policy. We do not give in to external pressure, " said Koirala at his official residence in Nepal's capital Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, Koirala, also the president of Nepali Congress, the biggest party in the second Constitution Assembly, said that he is looking forward to going again to China which he visited twice and impressed him greatly.

Koriala said, Nepal has many resources and seeks help from China, adding that both countries can collaborate in many fields including hydropower, agriculture and tourism.

According to the new prime minister who was elected on February 10, Nepal has a bright future because countries from all over the world are willing to invest and it is his government's responsibility to make an investment-friendly environment.