PM Oli returns from China, Minister Bhandari concludes India visit

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has returned to Nepal after completing a four-day official visit to China. He had departed for China on Dec 2 and traveled back to Kathmandu aboard a Himalayan Airlines flight.

During his visit, Prime Minister Oli held separate meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and other officials.

Notably, a framework agreement under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was signed between Nepal and China during the trip.

Prime Minister Oli is expected to brief the media about the achievements of his China visit at a press conference at the airport.

Meanwhile, Industry, Commerce, and Supply Minister Damodar Bhandari has also returned to Nepal today after completing a four-day official visit to India.

Minister Bhandari had traveled to New Delhi for the 29th Partnership Summit organized by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry on Dec 2-3.

During his stay in India, Minister Bhandari held discussions with key figures including Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, Head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal, and officials from the Federation of Indian Industry.

During his meeting with Dr. Chauthaiwale, Minister Bhandari discussed strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries. In his meeting with Foreign Minister Jaishankar, Bhandari focused on issues such as the construction of a motorable bridge over the Mahakali River in Baitadi and resolving problems faced by Nepali citizens along the border.

Minister Bhandari also discussed the smooth import of essential daily goods, facilitating the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for Nepali exports, construction of the Siliguri-Jhapa and Amlekhganj-Chitwan petroleum pipelines, expansion of Nepal’s exports to India, and encouraging Indian investment in Nepal.

Additionally, discussions were held on the operation of the Beloury border post in Kanchanpur.