Beijing, Jun 14 (PTI) Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal arrived in China on Sunday for talks with top Chinese officials amid expectations of a reset in bilateral ties following the RSP’s massive victory in the Himalayan nation earlier this year.
Khanal’s four-day visit comes a week after his trip to India, his first after the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) government took charge in March this year, ending the over-decade-long rule of Nepalese communist parties.
During his stay here, Khanal will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, and meet high-level Chinese dignitaries, according to foreign ministry officials on both sides.
“China attaches great importance to China-Nepal relations, and will take the visit as an opportunity to work with Nepal’s new government to enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and make greater progress in China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told media here on Friday.
Khanal’s visit is regarded as significant as he is expected to outline the China policy of the RSP government to the Chinese leadership.
The RSP won a massive victory in the parliamentary elections following Gen-Z protests that led to the fall of the pro-China government headed by K P Sharma Oli.
The RSP’s victory in the general elections also marked an end to the dominance of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) headed by Oli and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda.
The two communist parties gained political prominence after the abolition of the monarchy in Nepal in 2008 and sought to move Nepal closer to China, away from India.
Both Prachanda and Oli, who became prime ministers thrice each since 2008, advocated closer political and economic ties with China and played a central role in helping Beijing advance its influence in Nepal with measures like the Belt and Road Initiative.
Ahead of his visit to Beijing, Khanal said his talks with the Chinese leadership will be focused on dispelling misperceptions about the RSP government’s foreign policy orientation.
“My visit is focused on dispelling such narratives, building trust and confidence, and discussing the priorities of the new government so we can make tangible progress in different sectors,” Khanal was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post newspaper on Sunday.
Besides his talks with Chinese officials, Khanal will participate in the Investment Conference organised by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing to promote foreign investment in Nepal, interact with the Chinese business community, and attend a welcome reception in his honour at the Nepalese embassy.
Earlier, Khanal visited Delhi from June 5-7 during which he held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. After the talks, Khanal asserted that Nepal accords “highest priority” to its relationship with India and is ready to engage “substantively and purposefully” with New Delhi.
Before Khanal’s visit to Delhi, the ruling RSP President Rabi Lamichhane made a five-day trip to India at the invitation of BJP president Nitin Nabin and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 3. PTI KJV GRS GRS GRS
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