China and Nepal yesterday inked an economic deal that may channel more Chinese aid to the Himalayan nation, as Beijing strengthens strategic ties with neighbors.

The economic and technology pact was signed after Premier Wen Jiabao met with visiting Nepalese counterpart Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The details of the deal were not immediately available, but a source with the Nepalese delegation told China Daily that China was likely to increase aid to Nepal by 50 percent. The source didn't reveal the amount of the aid China has given or how many years the new aid would span.