China on Saturday agreed to provide Nepal with $119 million in aid during a surprise visit to the tiny Himalayan nation by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, AP reported. Tirtha Wagle, the Nepalese foreign ministry spokesman, said the countries signed agreements under which Beijing will provide economic and technical assistance and strengthen Nepal's police. Wen had planned to visit Nepal last month, but that trip was canceled for undisclosed reasons. This visit came ahead of a Middle East trip by the premier, and was kept secret until a few hours before he arrived. China has built highways and financed other development projects in Nepal, which is looking for increased financial assistance and investment as it recovers from years of insurgency and political uncertainty. Nepal is looking for China's help in developing a small airport at Pokhara, a tourist resort, into an international airport, and in building mountain highways and a hydropower plant.
