Cabinet endorses PM's China visit, minister Rana in Chengdu

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 29: The government has endorsed Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to China beginning from December 2 to 5.  

A Cabinet meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Thursday evening endorsed the Prime Minister's China visit, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung told The Rising Nepal. 

According to the Minister, 39 government officials and 48 representatives from the private sector will be in the delegation led by the Prime Minister. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on December 3. 

During the visit, discussions are planned for the implementation of the past agreements, cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and a proposal for grant assistance for Pokhara International Airport, among others. However, the formal bilateral discussion agendas have not been disclosed. Prime Minister Oli will fly to the northern neighbour via Himalaya Airlines.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba reached Chengdu on Thursday for a three-day official visit to China at the invitation of Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi. She is visiting China as part of preparations for PM's upcoming visit. 

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rana will hold a bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart on Friday. Minister Dr. Rana left for China on Thursday afternoon.

FM Dr. Rana was welcomed in Chengdu by Sichuan Provincial Deputy Director General of Foreign Affairs Office of Sichuan Province of China, Nepal's Ambassador to China Dr. Krishna Prasad Oli, and Consul General of Nepal to Chengdu, Suresh Raut, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing informed in a statement. During her visit, Dr Rana is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The meeting will take place on Friday in Chengdu.

This official visit is also aimed at preparing for the upcoming visit of Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal said. Dr. Rana will return to Katmandu on November 30.