Naindra Upadhaya, consul general of Nepal in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) , said Nepal wishes to strengthen relations with China in trade and tourism.

In an interview with Xinhua, Upadhaya said trade relations between Nepal and China had strengthened with joint efforts of the Nepalese and Chinese governments, and the volume of bilateral trade was increasing yearly.

Nepal and China could develop trade and economic cooperation by promoting collaboration on customs matters, addressing the issues of quarantine and increasing collaboration on trade facilitation and logistics, said Upadhaya.

The success of the 12th China Tibet-Nepal Economic Trade Fair in Xigaze in September was a sign of expansion in trade cooperation. He hoped more Chinese businessmen would attend the 13th fair to be held in Kathmandu.

The 20-point memorandum, signed in 2009 by Nepal and Tibet regional authorities, to promote their cooperation in tourism was a crucial mechanism to enhance and promote bilateral tourism, he said.

Nepal had simplified visa procedures for Chinese tourists, and China Eastern Airlines, China Southern, Air China and Dragon Air had all started services to Nepal. With improved accessibility, the number of Chinese visitor arrivals in Nepal had soared, he said.

According to Nepal Tourism Board, in August 2009, tourist arrivals from China rose by 87 percent compared to August 2008. Upadhaya said Nepal could attract 100,000 Chinese tourists in the Visit Nepal Year in 2011.

Last January, Upadhaya attended the third Session of the Ninth Tibet Autonomous Region People's Political Consultative Conference as an observer.

He learned the region's GDP had grown by more than 12 percent, enjoying a double-digit growth 17 years in a row. He attributed the development to the Chinese central government's support in aspects such as policy, finance, technology, and talent.

"I am very impressed by the leaps and bounds in Tibet. Tibet has witnessed outstanding social development," he said.

Upadhaya said he had witnessed the remarkable development and, even in rural areas, meat and barley wine were a normal part of life, unlike the 1950s. People had tractors and televisions and were enjoying a modern lifestyle.

The central government had invested substantially in Tibet's cultural development, said Upadhaya, citing the renovations of monasteries, improvements in education and healthcare.