A two-day meeting of the Inter- governmental Nepal-China Committee on Economic Cooperation will start Thursday in Beijing, a senior Nepali official said in Kathmandu Monday.

"Finance ministers of both the countries will lead the 9th meeting, which is being held after eight years although the original understanding is to meet in every two years," Madhukar Shumsher JB Rana, Finance Minister of Nepal, told reporters.

Rana, leading an 11-member Nepalese delegation, is leaving for Beijing on Tuesday to participate the meeting.

Nepal and China are enjoying great potential in developing economic relations, and the two countries can cooperate in almost all fields including banking, construction, airlines, insurance, agriculture and industry, Rana noted, adding, "The meeting will be very meaningful as it is being held after eight years."

"We greatly value our friendship with China, a true friend of Nepal and Nepalese people," Rana noted.

More and more Chinese businessmen and companies have come to Nepal to seek business opportunities and to explore investment possibility, Rana said.

"In 2004, the total number of Chinese investment projects reached 30 with input capital of nearly 40 million US dollars," Rana added.

Source: Xinhua