PM Oli raises objection to Lipulekh agreement in talks with President Xi
Responding to Oli’s statement, President Xi reassured Nepal that China respects its position and holds no differing view on the matter, stressing that any conclusion regarding Lipulekh should emerge from dialogue between Nepal and India.
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has firmly conveyed Nepal’s objection to the agreement between China and India to use Lipulekh, a part of Nepal’s sovereign territory, as a trade route during his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday.
The meeting, held at Tianmin State Guest House shortly after Prime Minister Oli’s arrival in Tianjin to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, focused on Nepal’s concerns over the strategic Himalayan region.
According to Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, who was present at the talks, Prime Minister Oli reminded President Xi that under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, all territories east of the Mahakali River, including Lipulekh, belong to Nepal. “We are clear that Nepal will not allow its territory to be used against any country. Likewise, Nepal strongly objects to any agreement reached by other countries concerning our land,” Oli said.
Responding to Oli’s statement, President Xi reassured Nepal that China respects its position and holds no differing view on the matter, stressing that any conclusion regarding Lipulekh should emerge from dialogue between Nepal and India.
The talks also covered broader cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Prime Minister Oli’s economic and development adviser, Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada, stated that China expressed readiness to expedite BRI projects in Nepal, enhance commercial agricultural production, and support Nepal’s efforts to expand exports. China also reiterated its commitment to helping Nepal transform from a landlocked to a land-linked nation.
The meeting was attended by senior Nepali officials, including former Deputy Prime Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka, Education, Science and Technology Minister Raghuji Panta, Tourism Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, former ministers Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada and Chhabilal Bishwakarma, and Nepal’s Ambassador to China Dr Krishna Prasad Oli. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song was also present.
During the trip, he will also hold talks in Beijing with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and meet with several heads of state and government on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
