China and Nepal are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, sharing a common destiny, and also important partners for mutual benefit and joint progress. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on August 1st, 1955, the traditional friendship and practical cooperation between the two countries have continued to deepen. In October 2019, President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Nepal, elevating bilateral ties to the Strategic Partnership for Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, marking a new stage , a new height, and the beginning of a new journey for China-Nepal relations.

In recent years, China-Nepal relations have maintained healthy and stable development, with growing political mutual trust and steady advancement in Belt and Road cooperation. Exchanges across various fields continue to expand. The year 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the past year, bilateral dialogue and cooperation have been further strengthened across multiple layers, including education, science and technology, communications, culture, tourism, radio and television, think tanks, and youth exchanges.

Today, both sides now look forward to jointly opening a new chapter of cooperation for the next 70 years. Standing at a new starting point carries on the past and opens up the future, Bharat Khanal, Consul General of Nepal in Guangzhou, shared his observations on the traditional friendship between China and Nepal and his vision for the future of bilateral relations with Outlook New Era.

Bharat Khanal, Consul General of Nepal in Guangzhou

Observations from duty: Feeling China’ s vigorous momentum for development

Bharat assumed office as Consul General of Nepal in Guangzhou in November 2024. His diplomatic career has spanned over a decade, beginning in 2014 when he entered Nepal’s foreign affairs system. From 2016 to 2020, he served at the Embassy of Nepal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, from 2023 until November 2024, he held positions in Nepal’s Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Home Affairs.

Reflecting on his first impressions of China, he traces them back to his student days.“My initial encounter with Chinese history and culture was in a history class, which marked the starting point of my impression of China,” he recalls. Later, driven by this interest in history, he pursued a Master's degree in the field, during which he systematically studied Chinese history, culture, language, and geography.

Since assuming his post in China, Bharat has visited multiple cities across the country. At the invitation of the Embassy of Nepal in China, his first stop was Beijing, where he visited landmarks such as the Great Wall. He then traveled to cities in Guangdong Province, including Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and made a trip to Hainan Province. Following this, he visited Fujian Province, exploring locations like Meizhou Island and Xiamen, and later visited several cities in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, among them Guilin.

Bharat readily acknowledges that the China he has witnessed firsthand differs markedly from his prior impressions. He notes that each city possesses its own unique charm, offering him distinctly different experiences. What has impressed him the most is the high level of economic development and the well-developed infrastructure in various places. Each city, he observes, showcases its unique resource advantages and development trajectory. Even more commendable, in his view, are the innovative and forward-looking models constructed around key areas such as education and health in each locality, all reflecting designs and long-term planning that are closely integrated with local realities.

 Serving as a vital window for international cooperation in southern China, The Consulate General of Nepal in Guangzhou consistently prioritizes fostering practical exchanges between the two countries in fields such as economy, trade, and tourism. Since assuming office, Bharat has actively expanded and deepened exchanges and cooperation between  China and Nepal in these areas. This includes active participation in major events like the Guangzhou Tea Expo and the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, as well as spearheading a series of promotion events hosted by the Consulate.

 “Last year, the Consulate General organized a total of 34 promotional activities, achieving a series of positive outcomes,” he explained. For instance, to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, the Consulate collaborated with the Guangzhou Library to launch a cultural exchange exhibition. The nearly six-week-long exhibition garnered a positive public response and helped cultivate a favorable atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Bharat further noted, “Another significant achievement of the Consulate General has been advancing air connectivity between major cities of the two countries. Currently, China Southern Airlines operates two daily flights between China and Nepal—one in the morning and one in the evening. Meanwhile, Nepal Airlines has launched a route from Kathmandu to Guangzhou, operating three flights per week.”

He emphasized, “I am confident that as the transportation network between China and Nepal improves, tourism, investment, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people flows between our countries will expand further.” He added, “Simultaneously, we aim to promote industrial cooperation by facilitating manufacturing sector linkages between Guangzhou and Kathmandu. Building on this foundation, we hope to help Nepal establish more international friendship city relationships with cities in southern China, thereby strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple domains, including culture, economy, and grassroots exchanges.”

Meanwhile, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), as one of China's most open and economically dynamic regions, has drawn significant international attention for its development. Bharat stated that Nepal also attaches great importance to its connections with the region. Currently, the GBA is home to a Nepali diaspora community of over 40,000 people, primarily residing in Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangzhou, among other cities. This signifies that a substantial Nepali community has taken root across the entire Bay Area. He emphasized that these cities hold significant importance for Nepal, whether viewed through the lens of historical ties, cultural exchange, or economic interaction.

Cultural exchange: Building a bridge of friendship across the Himalayas

Nepal, nestled on the southern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains, shares its northern border with China and is bounded by India on the other three sides. This majestic natural barrier, however, has not obstructed exchanges and interactions between China and Nepal. Instead, it has served as a bridge connecting the peoples of both nations—with scholar-monks traversing snow-clad passes to spread teachings, merchant caravans transporting goods along ancient trails, Buddhist culture flowing from north to south, and folk arts and life wisdom resonating on both sides of the mountain range. These interactions across the snow line have solidified into an intangible bridge deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples over the long course of history.

Today, the cultures of both nations flourish through mutual learning. A growing number of Nepali youth are studying the Chinese language and experiencing its culture, while many Chinese travelers journey to Nepal to appreciate its authentic and profound cultural landscape. From the temples of Kathmandu to the monasteries of Lhasa, from the thangka paintings of Nepali artisans to the paper-cutting of Chinese intangible heritage inheritors, from shared festive dances to language studies in classrooms—people-to-people exchanges, educational cooperation, and artistic co-creation are becoming increasingly vibrant. These interactions are steadily reinforcing and revitalizing this “bridge of friendship” in the new era.

When discussing the cultural commonalities between China and Nepal, Bharat highlighted that people in both countries place high value on family, hold deep respect for ancestors, and cherish traditions. “Today, I have gained a deeper understanding of China's culture, history, way of life, and artistic architecture,” he said. “One festival in China that has profoundly impressed me is the Dragon Boat Festival. It carries profound historical significance and collective sentiment. Traditional activities associated with it, such as dragon boat racing, have been introduced to Nepal through cultural exchanges and have evolved into new local forms. Now, during the Dragon Boat Festival season, a dragon boat festival celebration is held in Kathmandu, attracting large numbers of visitors and serving as a vivid example of cultural mutual learning and people-to-people connection between our two countries.”

In the field of education, cooperation between China and Nepal continues to deepen. In 2007, a Confucius Institute was established at Kathmandu University; in August 2022, the Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University was officially inaugurated. Furthermore, the Nepal China Research Institute jointly established by Beijing Language and Culture University and Nepal's Lumbini Buddhist University, was recently signed and inaugurated. Bharat noted that Nepali professionals, including engineers and doctors, regularly travel to various Chinese provinces for exchange and study. The number of Nepali students in China is steadily increasing, with their fields of study becoming more diverse.

He strongly advocates for expanding multidimensional cooperation between universities of the two countries, encompassing youth exchanges, academic collaboration, and distance education programs. “China has achieved remarkable development, and Nepal also has its own experiences to share. There remains vast potential for educational cooperation between our two countries. Deepening interactions in this field is of vital importance to both,” he emphasized.

Bharat emphasized that cultural exchange constitutes a vital cornerstone of China-Nepal relations. Both nations boast long and splendid civilizations, profound historical depth, rich religious traditions, and strong cultural bonds.“We should invest more resources in the cultural field to promote multi-layered exchanges,” he stated.

Advancing together, continuing a legacy of historical friendship

With the continuous improvement of bilateral economic and trade cooperation mechanisms, China-Nepal trade and investment relations have achieved solid progress in recent years. In May 2017, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Nepal has consistently deepened its institutional-level collaboration with China. Furthermore, the two sides have successively signed a series of agreements covering trade, economic and technical cooperation, avoidance of double taxation, and transportation. They have also leveraged platforms such as the China-Nepal Economic and Trade Joint Committee and the trade fair between China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Nepal to advance practical cooperation.

The trade structure between China and Nepal continues to optimize. China’s main exports to Nepal include high-value-added products such as electric vehicles, communication equipment, and precision instruments. In return, it imports distinctive Nepali goods like silage feed, leather products, and metal manufactures. In 2024, bilateral trade volume reached $2.2 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 22.1 percent. From January to August 2025, trade maintained its growth momentum, totaling $1.63 billion—a rise of 27 percent compared to the same period last year.

Bharat noted that Nepal enjoys sound bilateral economic and trade relations with China. China is not only Nepal’s second-largest trading partner but also its largest source of foreign investment. Data shows that in 2024, approximately 70 percent of the electric vehicles imported by Nepal came from China, and Chinese automakers have become the leading sellers in the local automotive market.“This is very positive progress,” Bharat added. While Nepal’s total carbon emissions account for an extremely low share of the global total, the country is severely impacted by climate change. Consequently, the Nepali government plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and is actively promoting the adoption of electric vehicles to facilitate the transition to clean energy.“Looking ahead, we also hope Chinese automakers will establish subsidiaries or localize production bases in Nepal, further advancing the development of the clean energy vehicle industry,” he stated.

Furthermore, Bharat believes the two sides should continue to enhance customs clearance facilitation at the border and strengthen connectivity between various Chinese cities and Nepal. He shared positive progress on the restoration of border infrastructure: starting January 1st, 2026, the Baotong Bridge, which connects China's Gyirong Port and Nepal's Rasuwa Port, has officially resumed operation. The  Gyirong-Rasuwa Port itself, which had been closed for nearly half a year due to flood damage, also reopened on the same day, restoring two-way passenger and cargo clearance.

“This is excellent news. The reopening of the ‘China-Nepal Friendship Bridge’ will significantly boost commercial trade and people-to-people exchanges between our countries.” He said, “Nepal also welcomes more Chinese investors and will further foster a friendly investment environment for Chinese enterprises.”

In recent years, China and Nepal have been steadily advancing cooperation across multiple fields under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Belt and Road Cooperation. During Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's visit to China in 2024, the two sides signed a cooperation framework agreement, marking the entry into a new stage of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Bharat pointed out that the BRI has injected important momentum into promoting regional economic integration and sustainable development. “Nepal has responded positively and participated actively since the Initiative’s inception,” he said.

Against the backdrop of China-Nepal relations being elevated to the Strategic Partnership for Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, Bharat believes the two countries should further expand the scale of cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. This entails promoting the implementation of more practical projects, such as the China-Nepal Cross-border Economic Cooperation Zone, so that the people can genuinely benefit and feel tangible improvements.

He noted that China has consistently and actively supported Nepal’s development plans, contributing to its economic progress. In turn, Nepal firmly supports China’s efforts in promoting peace and prosperity. He emphasized that Nepal hopes to learn from China’s successful experiences in economic development in recent years and looks forward to prioritizing practical areas like cross-border economic cooperation in the future, aiming to establish it as a key direction for deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Regarding the future of China-Nepal relations, Bharat expressed full confidence. “Nepal and China share a bright future,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming more Chinese tourists to Nepal and more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business here, jointly writing a new chapter of friendly cooperation between the two countries.”