Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Nepal-China Executives Council (NCEC), a non-government friendship organization of Nepal, have agreed to strengthen their relationship during the goodwill visit by the delegation led by CPAFFC President Chen Haosu, senior official of NCEC said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Monday.

Letters of intended on memorandum of understanding (MoU) were signed and exchanged on Sunday by Zhu Changbing, secretary general of CPAFFC and Rajendra Nakarmi, general secretary of NCEC, on behalf of their respective organization, Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, president of NCEC, told Xinhua.

Xinhua: What are the main guideline principles of the MoU?

Bhattarai: The activities undertaken within the framework of the MoU shall be guided by the following principles: CPAFFC and NCEC shall treat each other on the basis of principle of friendly equality. Both of us will focus on promoting people-to-people collaborative relations. A step-by-step approach shall be adopted to enhance the friendly relations between CPAFFC and NCEC at various non-government professional levels. Both of us shall cooperate on the promotion expansion of cooperation in the field of trade, tourism and cultural exchanges. Both of us shall act as facilitators to promote and strengthen investment and entrepreneurial relationship between Nepal and China.

Xinhua: What are the considerations for the MoU?

Bhattarai: NCEC and CPAFFC have agreed to give first priority to each other in undertaking collaborative activities in our respective countries or in the related other events, where we have respective experience and interest and are keenly interested in jointly carrying out studies, seminars, conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs. We have agreed to actively represent each other's interests in the most positive manner and to conduct our activities with each other in a regular manner and continue broaden to our scope of cooperation.

Xinhua: What are applications scope of collaboration of MoU?

Bhattarai: NCEC and CPAFFC shall perform activities in Nepal and China both in matters of national and international nature. The activities are focused on planning and execution of cooperation in the field of socio-cultural affairs such as exchange of visits of the experts, professional and scholars of both countries facilitating exchange of information and promotion of cooperation between entrepreneurs of Nepal and China.

It shall disseminate both the qualitative and quantitative information, knowledge and technology standards at the people-to- people level and promote multi dimensional linkages with the governmental and non-governmental as well as private sector economic, administrative and academic entities as far as practicable.

Xinhua: How do you evaluate CPAFFC in the context of China- Nepal relationship?

Bhattarai: I would like to appreciate and admire the contributions made by CPAFFC, since it's endeavor to enhance enduring and fruitful relations with Nepal. The sincere efforts made by CPAFFC to promote people to people relations are highly admirable. It has been given continuity to the traditional relations developed in the past 2000 years and also given meaningful direction to carry it on into the third millennium.

Xinhua: What are the aim and activities of NCEC ?

Bhattarai: According to the new approach developed in this period of globalization, the economic relation based on the principles of bilateral benefits is more effective than by the other traditional ways. NCEC was established, two years ago, to promote economic relations with China for mutual benefits and consolidate friendly ties.

We hosted the first reception in the beginning of January this year to celebrate the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relation between Nepal and China in 1955. In this connection we also organized the first ever fair of goods, made in China, in cooperation with the Chinese Embassy to Nepal. NCEC has also actively participated in trade fairs and meetings held in different parts of China on various occasions.

Xinhua: Is there any activities to come ?

Bhattarai: Of course, we are going to organize a second China Trade Fair in Kathmandu in March 2006. Similarly, exhibition and live demonstration of Nepalese Thanka painting will be organized in China in May 2006.

Now at the end of the golden jubilee year of China Nepal diplomatic ties, we like to convey our determinations to carry-on our sincere efforts to further consolidate the achievements and enhance our warm and cordial relations so happily developed in the past 50 years.

Source: Xinhua