'No agreement to be signed during Prachanda's China visit'

Nepal and China will not sign any agreements during Prime Minister Prachanda's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said today.
"Nepal government would put many agendas of bilateral cooperation on hold for now," Mahat said during a press meet here on the eve of the visit.
The lack of preparation from the Chinese side could not finalise the agreements between the two countries, a media quoted Mahat as saying.
"We hope that agreements would be signed on these matters in the near future".
Earlier, the Chinese state media had said a number of pacts, including on the construction of Sino-Nepal railway and upgrading the China-Nepal Araniko Highway, could be signed during the visit.

Prachanda is scheduled to leave for China tomorrow to take part in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2017.

His delegation includes his wife Sita, Mahat and Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi among others.
The Foreign Minister also informed that arrangements had been made for Prachanda's meeting with Chinese President Xi and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.
The Prime Minister would address the Boao Conference opening ceremony on March 25 in Boaoof Hainan province.
Then, he would leave for Beijing, where he would meet top officials of the Chinese government.
He is scheduled to address intellectuals, educationists, professionals and students at the Beijing Foreign Studies University on the theme of 'Nepal-China Relations: Prospects for Growth and Prosperity' on March 26.

Prachanda would also visit the Tibet Autonomous Region and meet officials of the Tibetan government.
The Nepalese delegation would return home from Lhasa on March 29, according to Foreign Ministry sources.