China promises $1 mn for Nepal polls

China will provide USD 1 million to Nepal for the May 14 local elections, President Xi Jinping announced on Monday as he discussed ways to step up ties with Prime Minister Prachanda, who is here on a fence-mending visit.

President Xi committed to provide the 9 million yuan at a meeting with Prachanda, who is visiting China for high-level talks, Nepal's official Rastriya Samachar Samiti reported from Beijing.

During the meeting held at the Great Hall of the People, Prachanda urged Beijing to reopen the Tatopani border point, the only major trade route with China which was closed after the April 2015 earthquake that rattled the Himalayan nation.

Xi assured Prachanda that China was serious about opening the Tatopani and other border points, the report said.

The leaders also discussed the construction of a railway line in Nepal with Chinese investment during the meeting that lasted for 35 minutes.

Xi said friendly ties between China and Nepal were in the fundamental interest of the two countries and the two peoples.

"We've steadily pushed forward connectivity, post-disaster reconstruction as well as advancing infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges.

I'm glad to see this progress. We should work together to create new momentum in friendly cooperation," Xi was quoted as saying by China's official CGTN network.

Recalling his meeting with Prachanda in Goa on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit last year, Xi said he was pleased that both the countries had moved forward with plans made there.