China has congratulated Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressing willingness to work with the new government to deepen the bilateral ties.  “Beijing observed that the election of Nepal was conducted smoothly and we congratulated Dahal for becoming the new prime minister,” Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a routine press conference on Monday. “We believe that with the joint effort of the Nepalese government and people, and with the consultation and coordination of various parties and political forces, Nepal will maintain stability and economic and social development.”

Mao further said that China attaches great importance to China-Nepal relations, and is willing to work with the new government of Nepal to expand and deepen friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields. “The two countries will jointly build a high-quality Belt and Road network, injecting new impetus to the development and prosperity of China-Nepal friendship from generation to generation,” she added.  Over the last one year, the relationship between the Sher Bahadur Deuba government and China did not go well due to several factors. Beijing felt that the Deuba-led government had tilted toward the West.

Chinese officials openly said that the engagement between two countries slowed down after the formation of the Deuba government. In this period, China expressed its concerns through Dahal, who was a vital coalition partner of Deuba. Beijing also maintained a close communication with Dahal about its interests in Nepal. 

“It [Beijing] was always pushing for a left unity in Nepal so Dahal’s appointment as new PM is obviously a good message for us,” said a Beijing-based analyst.  The main concerns of Beijing are implementation of past agreements reached between two countries, implementation of Belt and Road Initiative and preserving its core security interests.