Chinese prez to visit Nepal soon

Kathmandu, Sept. 9

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that there would be a visit to Nepal by President Xi Jinping at the earliest.

In a meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma this evening, he said that China was preparing for a top-level political visit to Nepal and it would happen soon.

"Nepal's expectation to welcome the Chinese president will be fulfilled soon. However, Wang did not disclose the time of visit," said PM Oli's Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr. Rajan Bhattarai.

Wang, who is currently on a 3-day official visit to Nepal, called on Prime Minister Oli at his residence in Baluawatar.

Nepal is waiting for a visit of Chinese President Xi Jingping. Earlier, the then Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, and present Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali had invited Xi on behalf of the President and prime ministers of Nepal.

Although there has been positive response from the Chinese side, the date is not fixed yet. Although there had been multiple top-level Nepali visits to China, there are no reciprocal visits from the latter since the then Premier Wen Jiabao visited Nepal in January 2012.

Gyawali said that as the country had entered into the political and policy stability after decades of instability and transition, it was the high time to welcome the top Chinese leaders.

According to Dr. Bhattarai, PM Oli has said that Nepal was committed to taking the bilateral relations to a newer height. He also expressed hope that the agreement signed during his China visit would be implemented soon.

PM Oli also expressed happiness over China's support in Nepal's infrastructure, education and social sectors and the importance the former had given to its smaller neighbour.

Wang conveyed wishes of Chinese President Xi and PM Li Keqiang to PM Oli for his better health.

Prime Minister Oli had reiterated Nepal's adherence to 'One China policy' and expressed commitment that Nepal would not let any force to use its soil against any neighbour and friendly nation.

Earlier in the afternoon, FMs Gyawali and Wang held a delegation level bilateral meeting  where they deliberated on enhancing the cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and executing the projects and agreements signed in the past.

They also talked about the development of infrastructure and energy projects in Nepal with the Chinese investment and support, easy access of Nepali products to the Chinese markets and climate change issues.

Minister Gyawali appreciated China’s continued support for Nepal’s socio-economic development and underlined the need for strengthening cooperation in the fields of connectivity, infrastructure, energy and education.

Likewise, the Chinese FM assured support to Nepal’s development endeavours.

The two sides also exchanged substantive views on promoting bilateral economic cooperation with special focus on trade, investment and tourism.

Both sides underscored the importance of the exchange of high-level visits on a regular basis in order to develop mutual trust and confidence, and to further strengthen bilateral relations, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement.

The two Foreign Ministers agreed to implement the agreements and understandings reached between two sides in the past.

They also agreed to continue cooperation in various regional and multilateral forums on matters of mutual interests.

The two sides signed different agreements where China would support Nepal in building a hospital in Mustang, provide 5,000 pieces tents for emergencies and send volunteers to teach Chinese language in Nepal. The estimated budget of the hospital is about Rs. 350 million.

China-Nepal cross-border railway project was also discussed during the meeting. Wang said that he was aware of the project and expressed commitment to materialising it.

Nepali delegation included Minister for Finance Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi, Finance Secretary Rajan Khanal, Nepali Ambassador to China Leela Mani Poudyal and Chief of North-East Asia Division at the MoFA Kali Prasad Pokharel.

Chinese Foreign Minister also visited Chandragiri and enjoyed an hour- long hiking atop the hill. Chairman of IME Group Chandra Prasad Dhakal welcomed Wang at the site.

He is scheduled to meet Nepal Communist Party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and leader of the main opposition party Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday morning. He will leave Kathmandu for China in the afternoon on the same day.

Wang calls on President Bhandari

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Sheetal Niwas on Monday.

They talked about the bilateral relations between the two countries, mutual interest and cooperation during the meeting, said the President's Office in a press statement.

"President Bhandari expressed her hope that such high-level visits will strengthen the age-old relations between Nepal and China. It will also contribute to the people to people relations as well," read the statement.

High government officials of both the countries were present in the meeting. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 September 2019.