On the afternoon of July 11, 2002, Vice President Hu Jintao met with visiting Nepalese King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev at the Great Hall of the People. The two sides held a cordial and friendly talk.

Hu extended a warm welcome to Gyanendra for his first visit to China since he was enthroned. He pointed out that China and Nepal are friendly neighbors that border on each other, and Sino-Nepalese friendly exchanges can dated back over 1,500 years. He voiced his pleasure at the strength of bilateral friendship which has withstood the test of changes on both the domestic and international fronts, with care and nurture by the leaders of the two countries. He mentioned Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Nepal in 1996, during which leaders of the two countries agreed to set up a good-neighborly partnership lasting from generation to generation. He also said that the important consensus reached between the two heads of state on the previous day on good-neighborly friendship and cooperation in the new century, has laid a firmer foundation for long-term, sound and steady progress in bilateral relations. Hu said that China is willing to take the opportunity of King Gyanendra's current visit to work with Nepal along lines mapped out by the top leaders of both countries, for the lofty goal of ongoing friendship from generation to generation.

Hu expressed his appreciation for the Nepalese government's consistent precious support and cooperation with China in the past on the Tibet issue. He pointed out that the strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the Tibet Autonomous Region and Nepal is in the common interests of the two peoples, and it has great potentials. Referring to the agreements on commerce and other issues between the Tibet Autonomous Region and Nepal signed on the previous day between the two sides, he said that he believes they will facilitate cooperation between Tibet and Nepal, so as to make benefits for peoples in border areas between China and Nepal.

King Gyanendra said that he and Chinese leaders have reached consensus on wide-ranging issues and signed related agreements on cooperation. Expressing satisfaction with his visit, Gyanendra said that bilateral ties are based on reliability, trust and understanding, and Nepal appreciates China's support and assistance in the past. He said that Nepal will strengthen friendly cooperation with China, Tibet in particular, in various fields and in non-governmental exchanges. He hopes his current visit will further promote bilateral relations.