Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli on India-China border dispute: We can take initiative to remove misunderstanding between our two friends

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has spoken on Nepal's ties with India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indo-China dispute in an exclusive interview to Zee News. The special interview with Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary was aired on the DNA show at 9 pm on Monday.

Here are the highlights:

-The Nepal PM has said that the relationship between India and Nepal is not that of a bigger and smaller nation. He added that both are equal sovereign countries, adding that India doesn't 'consider itself as the boss'. Speaking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi he said that 'PM Modi believes in equal relations but when I say that I am the Prime Minister equal to Modiji, people feel bad'.

-"Nepal will not let anyone use our land and sky in the fight against anybody," stated PM Oli.

-The Nepal PM also said, "We do not use the India-China dispute for our benefit and don't play cards against each other. We keep a balanced relationship." Speaking on India-China border tension, he said, "Nepal can mediate between India and China. It will be Nepal's loss if there is tension between India and China. We want peace and development."

-Referring to the 8th edition of the India map, PM Oli said: "it did not go well with Nepal, we also submitted our diplomatic note, but there was no positive response." "In the politics of nations, our policy is the 'Politics of Neutrality'. We would like to remain neutral between the two neighbours," he said.

-On the question of PM Modi being elder to him, as he is 70 years old, while PM Oli is 68 years old, the latter said, "Personally, he is older than us, but when two prime ministers sit, the two prime ministers will sit, not the big or small prime minister. Rather, the prime ministers of the two nations will sit."

-There are many Prime Ministers and Presidents in the world who are very young. They were not even born when we came into politics. Even though they are young in age, they are President, whether they belong to a big nation or a small nation. As a President, he will have an equal relationship with every President, he will also have an equal relationship with the Prime Minister or the Head of the government: PM Oli

-On the popular sentiments in India that after the India-China border dispute, Nepal took a neutral stand rather than showed its softness towards China. Oli said, "We have nothing to do with Galvan episode between India and China. Both the nations are are my neighbour."

-In geography and in population, Nepal can be small but as a nation, we should always talk in terms of universal equality: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

-PM Narendra Modi and I are at par. We are two prime ministers representing our nations. PM Modi believes in equal relations but when I say that I am the Prime Minister equal to Modiji, people feel bad: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli  

-Debate should take place. A healthy debate is necessary: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

-India and Nepal can be said to be big or small in terms of size but not as nations. The relationship between India and Nepal is not that of a bigger and smaller nation. Both are equal sovereign countries: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has opened his heart and spoke on different subjects (in Hindi) to convey his sentiments and his understanding of the ancient ties between the two nations as a historian, taking pride in the rich and variegated history of Nepal.