China dismisses reports of interference in Nepal

BEIJING: China has dismissed as "sheer unfounded rumor" media reports that Beijing had interfered in Nepal's internal affairs and caused the recent political upheaval there.

"The Chinese government always adheres to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular press briefing here.

It "is sheer unfounded rumor," Ma said.

China, as a friendly neighbor of Nepal, sincerely hoped all parties in Nepal would work together for peace, political stability and economic development, Ma was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

The Xinhua cited a report by an Indian newspaper which talked of alleged Chinese interference in Nepal.

Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', also chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), resigned on May 4 after President Ram Baran Yadav overruled his move to sack Army Chief Gen Rookmangud Katawal for alleged insubordination.