President Xi Jinping said China is ready to work with Nepal to continue the traditional friendship, and promote greater development of the strategic partnership of cooperation featuring everlasting friendship for development and prosperity between the two sides.

Xi made the remarks on Saturday when meeting with Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal. Xi said that over the past seven decades, the two peoples have stood together through thick and thin, writing a history of good-neighborliness and friendship.

He called on the two sides to strengthen strategic mutual trust, firmly support each other on issues related to core interests and major concerns, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly advance the Belt and Road cooperation.

Oli said that Nepal-China relations have withstood numerous challenges and have only grown stronger over time. Cooperation with China has significantly contributed to the country's economic and social development, he said.

He also expressed Nepal's commitment to jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthening cooperation with China across various sectors for more positive outcomes.

MO JINGXI