KATHMANDU, Dec 19: The 7th China Festival has started in Kathmandu from today. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Krishna Bahadur Mahara and chief of the Chinese Communist Party’s Publicity Department, Liu Qibao jointly inaugurated the festival this morning.

The festival is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil  Aviation and China’s Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.

Among other programs, Nepali as well as Chinese cultural shows will be organized during the three-day festival which will conclude on Wednesday. 

Qibao who arrived in the capital leading a Chinese delegation yesterday urged Nepal to be part of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative undertaken by China.

A highly-placed source said that Qibao, a close aide to Chinese President Xi Jinping, will also assess the situation in Nepal for a possible visit by the Chinese President.   

Qibao called on President Bidya Devi Bhandari soon after his arrival yesterday and is scheduled to meet PM PUshpa Kamal Dahal and other senior politicians today.