KATHMANDU, March 21: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is arriving in Kathmandu on a three-day official visit to Nepal on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced on Monday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang, who is also a State Councilor, is visiting Kathmandu from March 25 to 27 at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart, Dr Narayan Khadka.
During the visit, Minister Wang is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Chinese Vice Premier Wang visits Nepal today
Foreign Minister Dr Khadka and State Councilor Wang will hold bilateral talks, leading their respective delegations on March 26.
Wang will also hold meetings with former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, and former Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his stay in Kathmandu.
The visit of a top diplomat of the northern neighbor is seen with much interest as the visit takes place shortly after the parliamentary ratification of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact Agreement — a US-funded grant agreement. Sources said that Beijing wanted Nepal not to ratify the agreement.
The Chinese side has expressed its desire to finalize the Belt and Road Initiative Project Implementation Agreement during the visit of Foreign Minister Wang. Diplomatic sources confirmed that the two sides have exchanged the document after necessary consultation.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi has already held separate meetings with Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, Foreign Minister Dr Khadka, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other political leaders to discuss the possible agenda during the meeting.Sources said Nepal plans to raise issues such as ensuring smooth import and export of goods through Nepal-China customs points, facilitating return of Nepali students pursuing various courses in China and issues related to border disputes.
