Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that China will provide Nepalese Rs 56 billion assistance to Kathmandu over the next two years to help Nepal’s development programmes and transform the landlocked nation into a land-linked country.

The announcement came during Xi’s talks with his Nepalese counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday on the first day of his two-day state visit the first by a Chinese leader in 23 years.

They discussed matters relating to the friendly relations between the two countries, mutual interests and various other issues of concern, according a statement issued by the Nepal President’s Office.

During the meeting with Bhandari, President Xi announced a support of 3.5 billion RMB is equivalent to NRs. 56 billion to Nepal over the next two years to help the development programmes, officials said.

He said a feasibility study of trans-Himalayan railway will soon start and China will also support construction of the Kerung-Kathmandu tunnel road.”We have model friendship in the world, and there is no issue between the two countries,” Xi said during a state banquet hosted by President Bhandari on Saturday in his honour.

President Xi said he and Bhandari agreed to develop relations, friendship and partnership that would help in development and prosperity for Nepal.More reliable and easier connectivity facility between the two countries would be constructed in the near future, he said.