Kathmandu, Dec 3 (IANS): Beijing will substantially increase its assistance to developing countries in its neighbourhood, including Nepal and Pakistan, a visiting Chinese delegation said here Tuesday.

The delegation said the Chinese leadership strictly adheres to the five principles of peaceful coexistence.

Director general of external security of the Chinese foreign ministry Qiu Guoheng, a former ambassador to Nepal, is leading the 10-member delegation.

He made the remarks Tuesday during a meeting with Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) chairman and former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal.

A statement by the CPN-UML said the objective of the delegation's visit was to understand the new political developments in Nepal.

The delegation also conveyed a message from a recent conference presided over by President Xi Jinping on China's relations with its neighbours.

The conference decided to bring about important changes in China's policy for its neighbours.

It discussed peaceful coexistence and increase of assistance to developing countries in its neighbourhood, particularly Nepal and Pakistan.

The Chinese delegation which arrived in Kathmandu Monday will hold talks with major political parties.

Milan Tuladhar, member of the CPN-UML foreign department cell, told IANS that the Chinese leadership was going to revisit its neighbourhood policy.

The Chinese side told Khanal that despite China's size and sound economic growth, its dividend in foreign assistance did not reflect much.

Officials from Chinese departments like public security, Tibetan affairs and external affairs were also part of the delegation.

Khanal told the delegation that Nepal has maintained a one-China policy and no anti-China activities will be allowed in Nepal's soil.