Kathmandu  - China on Sunday pledged military assistance for Nepal to consolidate its security forces and peace process, officials said.

The aid pledge came during talks between Nepal Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and the deputy commander of China's People Liberation Army, Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian, in Kathmandu Sunday.

"China has assisted Nepal in the security sector at various times and continues to do so," Thapa said after the meeting. "An agreement was reached on 207 million rupees
(2.6 million dollars) of Chinese assistance for Nepal's security sector."

Thapa said the aid would be used for security issues including the integration of former rebels into security agencies and consolidation of security forces.

"The assistance will not be used for procurement of lethal equipment and we did not discuss supply of weapons," Thapa said.

Thapa said the Chinese general had praised Nepal's "one-China policy" and that talks also focused on border management.

Ma leads a 10-member Chinese military delegation which arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Although Nepal officials described the visit as "regular and friendly," it has assumed importance as there have been a series of high-level Chinese political and military visits recently.

Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was in Kathmandu for the most senior level visit by Chinese officials since Nepal abolished its monarchy earlier this year.

China was a major supplier of arms to the government after most nations suspended weapons exports following King Gyanendra's grab on absolute powers in 2005.

Chinese interest in Nepal also stems from a large Tibetan exile community which is increasingly vocal about Chinese dominance over their homeland. (dpa)