Chinese leader Li returning home today

KATHMANDU: The Chinese delegation, led by Li Zhanshu, Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, has returned home after a four-day official visit to Nepal.

During his visit to Nepal, Li was kept busy with political meetings with Nepal’s President, Prime Minister, and other political leaders.

On the invitation of Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota, the top Chinese legislator arrived in Kathmandu Monday leading a 67-member delegation that included six high-level officials, security personnel, journalists, and other staff.

Li and his delegation paid a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday.

President Bhandari met with the delegation to discuss bilateral issues.

On the occasion, President Bhandari emphasized Nepal’s traditional friendly ties with China and expressed her confidence that such high-level visits would further solidify the country’s ongoing bilateral relations.

At the meeting, Chairperson Li stated that the purpose of his visit was to put into effect the pact signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal in October 2019.

According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visiting Chinese leader Li stated that the purpose of his visit was to strengthen political trust and deepen mutual collaborations in various sectors.

He also expressed his best wishes for Nepal’s Constitution Day, which falls on September 19. (Monday).

Earlier on Wednesday, a Chinese delegation led by Li inspected post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, as well as indigenous art and culture.

Meanwhile, Speaker Sapkota and Chairperson Li held delegation-level talks and signed a six-point bilateral cooperation memorandum of understanding.

Similarly, he met with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday afternoon at Singha Durbar, the latter’s office.

They discussed bilateral trade, investment, connectivity, the return of Nepali students pursuing education in China to continue their studies, the resumption of flight services, and the re-opening of border entry points during the delegation-level meeting with the PM.

Chairperson Li and National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina also met courtesy on the same day.

Matters related to inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in light of Nepal-China relations were discussed on the occasion.

The Chinese leader met with CPN-UML chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, as well as CPN (Maoist Centre) chair and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday. Dr. Narayan Khadka, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Li on the same day.