Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is likely to pay an official visit to China towards November end or beginning of December. The ministry of Foreign Affairs is engaged in preparations for the proposed visit of PM Oli to the Southern neighbour as the government completes its first 100 days in office, claimed media reports.
However, no official announcement of the proposed visit has been made so far. When tried to contact for comment, Foreign Ministry spokesperson was not available. However, a high level source at the Foreign Ministry said that neither India nor China so far handed over invitation to the Prime Minister for the official visit.
The proposed visit will be Oli’s first visit to the immediate neighbour since taking office in mid-July, his fourth tenure as Prime Minister of
Nepal. Prime Minister Oli had held meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last month. During the meeting Oli also extended invitation to Modi to visit Nepal.
“Prime Minister Oli will possibly visit China within November, although the dates have yet to be finalized,” a leading English daily reported quoting sources close to the Prime Minister. “Preparations are underway to make the visit fruitful and productive,” it added.
There are speculations that the rumour of PM’s proposed to visit to China was spread deliberately so that the southern neighbour will hurriedly send an invitation to the PM for an official visit.
Among other things the signing of an agreement for the implementation of Belt and Road Initiative is likely during the visit if it takes place actually, sources said. Not a single project has so far moved forward under the BRI since the signing of the agreement between Nepal and China in 2017.
