The foreign ministries of Nepal and China on Friday announced the official visit of Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal to China beginning Sunday.
The visit comes a week after Khanal travelled to India, in what diplomatic observers see as Nepal’s effort to maintain balanced relations with its two immediate neighbours.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khanal is visiting the northern neighbour at the invitation of his counterpart, Wang Yi.
During his visit, Khanal will hold bilateral talks with Wang in Beijing on Monday. The two sides are expected to discuss matters of mutual interest aimed at further strengthening Nepal-China relations and advancing bilateral cooperation, the ministry said.
Officials familiar with the preparations said the visit will also focus on enhancing mutual trust and confidence between Kathmandu and Beijing. Similar issues were discussed during Khanal’s recent visit to India.
The visit comes amid efforts by Kathmandu and Beijing to deepen engagement following the formation of Nepal’s new government after snap elections triggered by the historic Gen Z movement last September. Diplomatic engagements are expected to address perceptions on both sides and reaffirm commitments to continued cooperation.
The Chinese foreign ministry, in a statement, said Khanal will be in China from June 14 to 17.
Soon after the March elections, some leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) visited Kathmandu and held talks with senior leaders of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, including Khanal. They discussed the outlook for the new government and sought to understand whether the new government would pursue a pro-Western line.
Those concerns prompted the RSP leadership to conclude that the new government should reassure both neighbours (China and India) that it would not depart from Nepal’s principled foreign policy position.
During a meeting with the Chinese ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming on April 8, Khanal assured that Nepal’s stance on China would remain unchanged under the new administration led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
While outlining the government’s priorities, Khanal told the ambassador that Nepal remains committed to both the letter and spirit of its constitution and foreign policy doctrine.
During the visit next week, Khanal is expected to discuss political and security relations between Nepal and China and push for the implementation of tangible and mutually beneficial projects.
Nepal and China have, in recent years, reached several understandings and agreements, including under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Trans-Himalayan Multi Dimensional Connectivity Network (THMDCN), as well as projects like the proposed expansion of the Chinese railway from Kerung to Kathmandu.
During his stay in China, discussions are expected to focus on infrastructure development, Nepal’s trade deficit, connectivity, cross-border movement, tourism revival, and projects under the BRI, given China’s interest in further strengthening political and economic engagement with Nepal, said officials.
Khanal will also attend a reception hosted in his honour by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, and interact with members of the Nepali Community.
