15-point Foreign Ministry brief: Key decisions from Lipulekh to SCO

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli concluded a five-day official visit to China and returned home Wednesday night.

The visit, which took place from Bhadra 14 to 18, aimed to strengthen Nepal’s geopolitical interests and expand its international relationships, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the visit, PM Oli participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and held high-level bilateral meetings with leaders from multiple countries.

In his summit address, he outlined Nepal’s commitment to multilateralism, regional cooperation, and sustainable development.

He also reiterated Nepal’s aspiration to transition from a dialogue partner to a full member within the SCO framework.

Key Bilateral Engagements

PM Oli held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin, where he raised concerns over the India-China agreement regarding trade through the Lipulekh Pass, urging that it not be implemented to safeguard Nepal’s territorial sovereignty.

President Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting the “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali” initiative and reiterated Beijing’s backing for high-quality Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Nepal.

In a separate discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, PM Oli emphasized strengthening Nepal-Russia relations, promoting cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture, and aviation, and extended a formal invitation for President Putin to visit Nepal.

PM Oli also held meetings with the heads of state or government from Laos, Maldives, Vietnam, and Cambodia to explore mutual interests and further bilateral cooperation, enhancing Nepal’s diplomatic footprint in the region.

Beijing Visit and Commemorative Ceremony

Following the SCO Summit in Tianjin, PM Oli traveled to Beijing on September 2, where he met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng to discuss the full spectrum of Nepal-China relations. On September 3, he attended China’s 80th Anniversary of the Victory over Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War celebration before returning to Nepal the same day.

Controversy and Clarification

The visit sparked debate in Nepal after the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming Nepal’s support for China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI). However, Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai clarified that Nepal only supports the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and not China’s security strategy, emphasizing that Nepal’s foreign policy remains unchanged.

The official delegation included PM Oli’s wife Radhika Shakya, former Deputy Prime Minister and Congress Vice-Chair Purna Bahadur Khadka, Education Minister Raghuji Pant, Tourism Minister Badri Pandey, and PM’s economic advisor Yubaraj Khatiwada. PM Oli, however, did not hold a direct press conference after returning from China.