By Purushottam P. Khatri
Kathmandu, Oct. 5: Security preparations have been made to welcome the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping in Nepal, according to the Nepali Army Headquarters.
As the government and people keenly await the Chinese President to arrive in Kathmandu at a festive time of Bada Dashain, the capital city is getting clean and decorated, with proper security arrangements in place.
The High Level Security Coordination Committee, headed by a Lieutenant General of Nepali Army, has mechanised fool-proof security arrangements after holding a series of meetings involving security officials of Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department (NID).
“The committee has finalised the security measures to be in place during Xi's visit,” Brigadier General and spokesperson of Nepali Army Bigyan Dev Pandey told The Rising Nepal.
“The security bodies of Nepal will provide a virtual layer of 'Z' plus level of VVIP security upon his arrival and till his stay in Nepal. The overall security responsibility was given to the Nepali Army,” Pandey said.
The Nepali Army has been handling the security responsibilities in coordination with three other bodies, he said.
Though the date of XI’s arrival is yet to be made public by the government, President Xi is expected to be here next week. The visit to Nepal by the President of China will have happened in more than two decades.
The government will provide and manage a special class of security provision, as mentioned in the Work Procedure related to the Special Person-2013.
As per the Work Procedure, the NA will provide the first layer of security to any VVIP delegation coming to Nepal under the command of Lieutenant General. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police Shailesh Thapa Kshetri of Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, a DIG from the Armed Police Force and another DIG level officer from NID are the members in the Committee.