China accords red carpet welcome to Prachanda on maiden visit - Beijing, Aug 24 (PTI) China today offered to provide "every possible help" to Nepal for its stability and development as Beijing accorded a red carpet welcome to Prime Minister Prachanda who described the communist giant as a "reliable" friend on his maiden foreign visit.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao met separately with Pushpa Kamal Dahal or "Prachanda" and promised reciprocal cooperation in various fields between the two neighbouring nations.
China and Nepal are "good neighbours, good friends and good partners" Hu said, noting that "the two countries have established a good neighbourly partnership and enjoyed friendship generation upon generation." "Mr Prime Minister has come to the Beijing Olympics' closing ceremony within a week after being sworn in," Hu said, referring to Prachanda's election as Prime Minister on August 18.
"This fully demonstrates the great attention Nepal attaches to relations with China and its profound friendship with the Chinese people. We highly appreciate that," Hu told Prachanda, the head of the Maoists, who has departed from tradition where India has been the first port of call for most previous top Nepalese leaders.
The Chinese government respects the social system and path of development chosen independently by the Nepalese and supports their efforts in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hu said.