KATHMANDU, Aug 26: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ashokraj Sigdel is set to visit China in the second week of September. This will be his first visit to China since his appointment as Army Chief, a military source confirmed. Sigdel has been invited to participate in the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. For the visit, correspondence has already been sent to the Ministry of Defense for approval. He is currently on a visit to Thailand. The Army Chief’s trip to China follows Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent visit there.
During his visit, Sigdel is scheduled to meet with China’s Defense Minister and senior military officials. However, Nepal Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet said he had not yet received formal information about the visit. “I have not been officially informed about the Army Chief’s China visit,” Basnet told reporters.
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The Xiangshan Forum will begin on September 17 and conclude on September 19. According to military sources, Sigdel is also expected to address the forum. Organized annually in Beijing, the forum brings together army chiefs, defense ministers, and security experts from across the Asia-Pacific region. The discussions focus on security dialogue, military partnerships, and multilateral cooperation. China has been promoting the forum since 2006 as an alternative to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Earlier on December 11, Sigdel visited New Delhi, India, on an official trip. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff on September 9, 2024. China had extended an invitation for his visit that same year, but the trip is only now taking place, according to Army Headquarters.
Before his China visit, Nepal and China are set to conduct the fifth edition of their joint military exercise in the third week of Bhadra. This edition of the exercise will be hosted in Nepal. The exercise will focus on counterterrorism operations, combat skills, and disaster management.
Named Sagarmatha Friendship, the joint exercise between the Nepal Army and the People’s Liberation Army was held last year in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Preparations for the fifth edition are currently underway between the two armies. The exercise will run for 10 days, beginning on September 6, according to sources.
The Nepal Army has been conducting joint military exercises with India, the United States, and China. Army spokesperson Brigadier General Basnet confirmed the upcoming drill with China. “The Sagarmatha Friendship exercise has so far been held in China. This time, it will take place in Nepal. The exercise will help build capacity and provide an opportunity for exchanging experiences,” Basnet said.
