China and Nepal strengthen emergency cooperation to tackle flash floods

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Nepali Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal agreed on Saturday to strengthen emergency response cooperation and aid distribution.

The agreement between the two countries was reached after cross-border flash floods killed at least 633 people and left thousands missing.

In a post on social media platform X, Nepali Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said he had held a telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Both diplomats expressed deep condolences over the loss of life and the severe damage affecting both countries.

Khanal reaffirmed the shared commitment to enhancing rescue operations, emergency assistance, and real-time hydrological data exchange. He also expressed appreciation for the swift support provided by the Chinese government in evacuation efforts.

Following Nepal’s request, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched nine tunnel technical experts in stages to the disaster site.

The experts were deployed to support rescue operations for workers trapped in a hydropower plant tunnel, according to the People’s Daily.

In addition to China, India also mobilised emergency assistance to Kathmandu on Saturday.

The Indian government sent six forensic expert teams to help identify the deceased through DNA sample analysis, as well as deploying specialist tunnel rescue teams with heavy equipment.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs recorded that 287 of its citizens remain missing in the affected area, while 88 others have been safely evacuated.

The flash floods that struck the Nepal-China border region have triggered a massive search operation for nearly 3,000 people still missing, including foreign tourists.

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed official condolences and affirmed Beijing’s readiness to continue supporting Nepal in post-disaster handling.