A senior Chinese official has said Beijing will promote military cooperation with Nepal.

According to a report in the online edition of People’s Daily– an official Chinese publication–Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan said on Friday that China will promote military cooperation with Nepal.

During a meeting with General Pyar Jung Thapa, Nepal’s chief of army staff, Cao said that since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 50 years ago, bilateral relations have witnessed smooth progress on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

The two countries trust each other politically, cooperate economically and support each other in major international affairs, said Cao, who is also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor, report said.

Cao hoped the two countries and militaries expand visits and exchanges in the future.

Gen Thapa affirmed the strengthened military cooperation between Nepal and China, hoping the neighborly partnership between the two countries could move forward.

Earlier on Friday Thapa held talks with Liang Guanglie, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

Details were not available.

General Thapa is visiting China at a time when major arms suppliers to Nepal, including India, US and the UK, stopped their military assistance in protest of the royal takeover early this year.

China, however, termed it as an internal matter of Nepal.