Xi's visit aimed to boost cooperation between China, Nepal and India

President Xi Jinping's recent state visit to Nepal, the first by a Chinese head of state in 23 years, has taken bilateral ties to newer heights while opening up multiple avenues for advancing cooperation in the new era. During his visit, the two neighbors agreed to upgrade their relations to a "strategic partnership".

Nepalese politicians, scholars and the media are engaged in decoding the messages given by Xi. Nepal's mainstream media, with almost identical editorials, highlighted three key messages: the strong bond between the two countries and Nepal's importance to China; Xi's support to transform Nepal from a landlocked to a "land-linked" country; and his assurance to Nepalese leaders to deliver everything he has promised.

During Xi's visit, the two countries signed 20 agreements in fields such as multi-dimensional connectivity, infrastructure building, people-to-people exchanges, agriculture, health and education, with a focus on capacity building and technology transfer.