China's Foreign Ministry is silent on the India-China agreement to reopen trade through the Nepali territory of Lipulekh.
The statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry regarding the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on Saturday has not mentioned anything on the issue.
During the meeting, Nepal's Prime Minister Oli had said, "According to the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, all the lands to the east of the Mahakali River belong to sovereign Nepal," and expressed confidence that "China will support Nepal in this matter."
In response, the Chinese President Xi said that China does not want to be a party to the border dispute between Nepal and India, but the statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry did not mention this.
Instead, it stated that Nepal is committed to the one-China policy, strongly opposes Taiwan independence, and supports the Global Security Initiative (GCI) put forward by China.
"Nepal is firmly committed to the one-China principle, resolutely opposes “Taiwan independence,” and does not allow any force to use its territory to undermine China’s interests. Nepal is committed to achieving continuous development and looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. We will enhance cooperation with China on trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, tourism, climate response, and other fields and deliver more positive outcomes," reads the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of China.
The statement further said, "Nepal supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China, values the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, actively upholds the “Shanghai Spirit,” and looks forward to China playing an even bigger role in international affairs."
A statement issued by the Nepali Embassy in China regarding the meeting, raising the issue of Lipulekh, stated that it strongly objected to the agreement between China and India to reopen trade through the Nepali territory of Lipulekh.
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