KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) has decided to cancel his scheduled trip to China.

The Chinese government had extended an invitation to Mayor Shah for a visit to Beijing, slated to commence on Thursday afternoon. The purpose of the visit was centered around promoting tourism and facilitating cultural exchange between the two nations.

However, Mayor Shah has chosen to withdraw from the trip, citing China’s failure to acknowledge Nepal’s new political map. Balen has expressed his concern that the recent release of China's official map did not accurately depict Nepal's territorial boundaries in accordance with the new political map. Instead, the map indicated Nepali territory belonging to India.

Mayor Shah articulated his stance on social media, emphasizing, "We perceive the depiction of Nepali territory as India’s, without prior consultation with us, as an action that disregards our sensitivities. Consequently, I have made the ethical decision today to refrain from embarking on my scheduled five-day visit to China."

On May 20, 2020, Nepal's parliament endorsed the new political map of Nepal, encompassing regions such as Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani.

 
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