Nepal PM to leave for China on official visit

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is leaving for China today at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Oli is leading a 56-member delegation to Beijing.

During his visit, several agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed between the two countries, reports The Himalayan Times.

Both countries are preparing to formalise Transit and Transportation Agreement and Hilsa Bridge Construction Project besides signing a loan agreement with China EXIM bank for the construction of a regional international airport in Pokhara, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa.

The two countries are also likely to sign MoUs on Free Trade Agreement, Patent Rights and Banking Regulations, said Thapa.

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) will sign an MoU with China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), enabling both regulators to exchange supervisory information.

The construction of the Hilsa Bridge will be the third friendly bridge connecting Nepal and China after Tatopani in Sindhupalchok and Kerung in Rasuwa.

Several feasibility studies, including Kimathanka-Biratnagar road, second phase of Ring Road expansion, Kerung-Kathmandu rail and petroleum storage facilities in three locations and a mono rail for Kathmandu are also high on agenda.

This is Oli's second foreign visit after India last month since he became the Prime Minister.

PM Oli will be accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Commerce Minister Deepak Bohara, Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel, PM's Chief Political Advisor Bishnu Rimal, parliamentarians and senior bureaucrats.

During the visit, he will pay courtesy calls on Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.

Oli is also scheduled to address the scholars, academics, business people and students at Renmin University on the theme 'Nepal-China Relations in the Context of Belt and Road Initiatives'.

He will also witness the signing ceremony of MoU on Granting Nepal the Status of Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The Prime Minister is scheduled to return on March 27 from Chengdu.