Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expresses displeasure over simultaneous Chinese officials' visit to Nepal

Published On: January 5, 2024 12:35 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Jan 5: Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar arrived in Nepal with a positive attitude, expressing happiness about his first visit in 2024. In a tweet, he wrote, “Hello Kathmandu, I am very happy to come to Nepal as my first visit in 2024. I am excited for the various programs that will last for the next two days.”

However, it appears that his satisfaction diminished shortly thereafter. During meetings with President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, it is reported that Jaishankar became dissatisfied when Shi Yugang, Deputy Secretary of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee, arrived in Nepal at the same time.

This dissatisfaction is suspected to be linked to the simultaneous visits of high-ranking officials from the Chinese Communist Party when Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and his representative were in Nepal.

Yugang proceeded directly to the Marriott Hotel from the airport, where accommodation for the team accompanying him had been arranged. The six-member team, led by Deputy Secretary Yugang, includes Chang Shiqin, Wang Wei, Duan Shaoren, Chek Shuyun, and Li Shihai. Sources suggest that the team will also hold meetings with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, and Tourism Minister Sudan Kiranti.

A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) revealed, "Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has expressed his displeasure that Nepal invited the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party to visit Nepal on the same day as his visit."

It was known beforehand during Dr Jaishankar's visit to Nepal that high-ranking Chinese officials were also scheduled to visit. He had requested the Nepal government to avoid overlapping the visits, but as the Chinese visit was pre-scheduled, the MoFA did not make any effort to postpone it. The official program of the Chinese officials has not been mentioned by the MoFA, and there is no indication of their schedule.