PM Oli embarks on a four day official visit to China

Prime Minister KP Oli on Monday left for Beijing on a four day maiden visit to China  at the the friendly invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. This is his first official visit after assuming office for the fourth time. Prime Minister Oli will have hectic political consultations in Beijing during the official visit. Besides holding high level meetings during the visit, Prime Minister Oli will attend a program at Peking University and address the Nepal-China Business Forum organized jointly by Nepali Embassy in Beijing, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Nepal Federation of Commerce and Industry.

Prime Minister is being accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya. The Nepalese delegation to Beijing led by PM Oli includes Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba, Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, PM’s Economic and Development Advisor Dr. Yuvraj Khatiwada, Parliament members, seniior government officials, representatives of the private sector, media persons among others. The Prime Minister’s entourage consists of 39 members plus 48 members of business community, who will join him later in Beijing.

Ahead of Prime Minister Oli’s China visit the Council of Ministers’ meeting on Sunday wished for the success of the PM’s China visit. The meeting also decided to accept projects worth 20 million US dollar equivalent to Rs. 2.70 billion offered by government of China as grant assistance, according to Minister for Information and Communication Prithvi Subba Gurung, who is also the government spokesperson. Besides, the cabinet also decided to accept 300 million RMB equivalent to Rs. 5.60 worth project agreement proposed by government of China, Gurung added.

About a dozen agenda items are on his list, with top priority given to the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Apart from this, various projects including Tokha-Khahare Tunnel Road, Special Economic Zone construction at Corala border point of Mustang, road construction at Kimathanka of Shankhuwasabha, feasibility study of railway line in Rasuwagadhi, expansion of Kathmandu Ring Road second phase, starting bone marrow service at Chitawan Cancel Hospital will be forwarded during his high level meetings in China, according to Information Minister Gurung. So far as the implementation of BRI is concerned, there is sharp differences between the ruling partners CPN-UML and Nepali Congress. Nepali Congress has underscored the need to move forward the BRI framework proposed by China under grant assistance, while  the emphasis of CPN-UML to implement the BRI with hook or by crook. The success of Oli’s China visit depends whether he could convince the Chinese authorities to move forward the BRI framework as per our national interest and priority and forge consensus among major political forces. There is a need for greater political consensus to strike a deal on important agreements like BRI. Thus, BRI will prove to be a litmus test for Prime Minister Oli.