Nepal maintains balanced ties with India, China: Oli

Kathmandu, August 26

Nepal maintains friendly relations with both India and China in a “balanced” manner, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said on Monday, underlining that occasional problems between neighbours are “natural” and can be resolved through “open dialogue”.

Speaking at a book release function here, Oli said, “We don’t allow our land to be used against any of our neighbours.” He said the Himalayan nation maintains “good and friendly relations with both neighbours in a balanced manner by observing honesty and neutrality.”

The 72-year-old four-time PM said it is natural to occasionally have problems with neighbours. “We can resolve them through open dialogue,” he said. “The problem will not arise if we seek justifiable and appropriate solutions on the basis of facts and proofs by maintaining international obligations without elaborating on the matter much,” Oli said.

He also asked the Indian side to accept the report prepared by the Nepal-India Eminent Persons Group (EPG Report) which includes among other things the matter relating to the review of the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950. He said it would facilitate dialogue to sort out border issues and other matters. — PTI