NA Vice-Chair Bhandari and Xizang Vice-Chair Peng meet

Kathmandu, May 26: A courtesy meeting has been held between the National Assembly Vice-Chairperson Leela Kumari Bhandari and Zhao Peng, Vice-Chairperson of the Xizang Autonomous Region of China, today.

In the meeting held at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues relating to Nepal-China relations, according to the Secretariat of Vice-Chair Bhandari.

Views were also exchanged on further enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the areas of trade, tourism, agriculture, energy and inter-parliamentary cooperation, added the Secretariat.

During the meeting, Vice-Chair Bhandari highlighted the longstanding friendship between Nepal and China which, she said, was based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (Panchasheel) and mutual respect for each other’s sensitivities.

Reiterating Nepal’s firm commitment to the ‘One-China policy’ of China, she reaffirmed that Nepal would not allow any activities against China’s interests in its territory.

Discussing cooperation with Xizang Autonomous Region, Bhandari expressed satisfaction over progress in trade, tourism, agriculture and energy sectors.

She noted that trade between Nepal and Xizang currently accounts for nearly one-third of total Nepal-China trade.

In the first six months of 2025, bilateral trade reached 2.19 billion yuan, marking a 22.1 percent increase compared to the previous year, mentioned the Vice-Chairperson.

Vice-Chair Bhandari also apprised that the 13th meeting of the Nepal-Xizang Economic and Trade Facilitation Committee was successfully held in Lhasa in June 2025 while, she added, preparations are underway to host the 14th meeting in Kathmandu later this year.

She also expressed her happiness over establishment of a sister-city relationship between Dhulikhel Municipality and Ali Prefecture of Xizang.

On inter-parliamentary cooperation, Bhandari described that the 6-point memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 between Nepal’s House of Representatives and China’s National People’s Congress as a significant milestone.

She also disclosed that plans to form a Nepal-China Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament here.

The Vice-Chair also articulated her optimism that Xizang’s achievements in infrastructure development, economic growth and public welfare would create further economic opportunities for Nepal.