Still unclear if a fuel import accord will be inked
KATHMANDU, March 20: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday embarked on a week-long visit to China, amid pressure to sign a deal with the northern neighbor on the import of fuel.
Prime Minister Oli has flown off to China at the head of a jumbo team, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang.
Prime Minister Oli is accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa, Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Commerce Deepak Bohara, Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokharel, Bishnu Prasad Rimal, chief advisor to the prime minister, Sushil Gyewali, chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction Authority, Members of Parliament, the chief secretary, other secretaries and senior government officials as well as representatives of the business community and media, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During his visit, the prime minister is likely to sign around half a dozen agreements, including agreements on transit and transport and a cross-border power transmission line. However, it is still not clear if there will be any agreement on the import of fuel from China.
Though the prime minister flew to China on Sunday, his official visit will begin from Monday morning with the presentation of a guard of honor by the Chinese military, in the presence of Chinese Prime Minister Li. This will be followed by a prime ministerial level meeting.
During the meeting, they are to review the six decade-old Nepal-China relations and discuss necessary agreements for expanding economic ties with China in the wake of the Indian blockade against Nepal, and also border security issues.
The two sides are expected to reach agreements following discussions based on the eight-point framework accord reached earlier between Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa and the Chinese government during Thapa's visit to China at the height of the Indian blockade.
The two sides are also to reach understanding on carrying out second phase construction work on the Kathmandu Valley Ring Road and developing the 434-megawatt Upper Arun Hydroelectric Project with support from the Chinese government, as per what Prime Minister Oli said to a parliamentary committee prior to his visit.
Similarly, Prime Minister Oli will call on Chinese President Xi Jinping for almost an hour. During his meeting with Xi, Prime Minister Oli will extend an official invitation for a state visit to Nepal, apart from discussing various issues for strengthening economic ties between the two neighboring countries.
Oli is also scheduled to meet Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Yu Zhegsheng, and address students at Renmin University in Beijing.
He will also hold talks with various Chinese leaders, businessmen and other stakeholders and make a field visit to development projects during his week-long visit. He will return home on March 27.
