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In an interview with the China Daily in Kathmandu, Prachanda said Nepal will seek rapprochement with the United States. The Maoist group remains on the U.S. terrorist list.

"Equidistance means not siding with one country against another. My exact meaning of equidistance is to have good relations with both the neighbors", Prachanda said.

The small, landlocked and predominantly Hindu country has seen momentous changes in recent months with the end of the decade-long rebellion by Prachanda's Maoist rebels.

In the April constituent assembly elections, Prachanda's party won the most seats. His campaign helped abolish the 240-year-old monarchy and transform Nepal into a republic.

India and China are Nepal's neighbors. There is concern that Prachanda's government may get closer to China.

He told China Daily he hopes to visit China soon, adding, "I want to go to Chairman Mao's village and home to get some more inspiration by seeing and feeling."

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