Xi Jinping pledges support to Nepal's reconstruction after earthquake

BEIJING: President Xi Jinping today pledged China's support for the reconstruction of Nepal after the recent devastating earthquake as he greeted his Nepalese counterpart on the country's Republic Day.

In his message to Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav to mark the eighth Republic Day of Nepal, Xi hailed bilateral ties saying "China and Nepal, linked by rivers and mountains, are as close as brothers".

"The earthquake that struck Nepal has caused tremendous damage and suffering to the Nepalese people, which the Chinese government and people feel as if they had also experienced it in person," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, killing nearly 9,000 people with thousands of houses destroyed or damaged in the disaster and ensuing aftershocks.

Pledging China's full support to aid Nepal's disaster relief efforts and help the Nepalese people rebuild their homes, Xi said the destinies of the two countries will become more closely entwined and friendship between the two peoples will grow stronger in the process.

Xi stressed that China attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with Nepal and appreciates Nepal's long-standing one-China policy.

China is also ready to work with Nepal to continuously promote development of the bilateral comprehensive partnership and everlasting friendship, Xi said.