Xinhua is the official news agency of the Peoples Republic of China

Lhasa (Aug. 23) XINHUA - The King of Nepal, Birendra Bir Dev, arrived in Lhasa today to begin a week-long unofficial visit to China, at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Gyaincain Norbu, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, gave a briefing to the King on social and economic development, as well as the development goals of the region in the next 15 years.

He said that Tibet and Nepal can increase cooperation in the fields of trade, tourism, communications and sports. Since the air route between Lhasa and Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, opened, and an agreement on communications cooperation between the two cities was signed, the ties between Tibet and Nepal have been expanded on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, he added.

The chairman appreciated Nepal's consistent stand of recognizing that Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and the issue of Tibet is an internal affair for China.

Birendra said that his country will not become a tool for others to split Tibet, adding that the Nepalese government has maintained a sharp vigilance against such intentions.

He added that Nepal can learn from Tibet's experience in gardening and agriculture, and the two sides should work to promote tourism and cooperate in tapping the rich water resources.

Copyright 1996