PM Oli returns after 5-day official visit to China (photos)
Upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, PM Oli was welcomed by senior government officials at the VIP lounge.
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli returned home on Wednesday evening after completing a five-day official visit to China.
He had left for China on Saturday to attend the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin on Bhadra 15 and 16.
Upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, PM Oli was welcomed by senior government officials at the VIP lounge.
During the visit, PM Oli held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as leaders of Laos, the Maldives, Vietnam, and Cambodia. He also had a brief exchange with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though no formal meeting took place
Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai described Nepal’s participation in the SCO Summit as an important opportunity to promote national interest.
However, the visit was not without controversy. The Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed Nepal supported China’s “Global Security Initiative (GSI),” sparking geopolitical debate in Kathmandu. Rai clarified that Nepal had only supported China’s “Global Development Initiative” and not the security strategy, reaffirming that “Nepal’s policy remains unchanged.”
In his talks with President Xi on Saturday in Tianjin, PM Oli raised strong objections to the India-China agreement on trade through the Lipulekh pass, urging China not to implement the deal. This move has been viewed as a significant diplomatic step to safeguard Nepal’s sovereignty.
Oli also invited President Putin to visit Nepal, with discussions between the two leaders covering trade, investment, education, culture, and air connectivity.
On Bhadra 17, PM Oli reached Beijing, where he met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and discussed various aspects of Nepal-China relations.
On Bhadra 18, he attended the 80th anniversary ceremony of China’s victory against Japanese aggression and global fascism before returning to Nepal the same night.
According to Foreign Secretary Rai, the visit significantly enhanced Nepal’s international standing and diplomatic outreach.
The delegation included PM Oli’s spouse Radhika Shakya, former Deputy Prime Minister and Nepali Congress Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, Education Minister Raghuji Panta, Tourism Minister Badri Pandey, Economic Advisor Yuvaraj Khatiwada, and other senior officials.
Notably, PM Oli did not hold a direct press briefing with journalists after his return.
