Kathmandu, September 18. With President Xi Jinping’s renewed emphasis on prioritizing relationships with neighboring nations, prominent leaders from China’s Communist Party have been engaged in a series of high-profile meetings in Nepal. This surge in diplomatic activity comes in the wake of the ratification of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement in Nepal. Since President Xi’s last visit to Nepal four years ago, Kathmandu has witnessed numerous visits from senior Chinese officials.
A distinguished delegation led by Zeng Yan, a member of the Yunnan Provincial Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), has recently arrived in Kathmandu. Comprising nine members, this delegation is under the leadership of Yan, who also holds the position of Head of the Party Publicity Department of Yunnan Province.
Their arrival in Kathmandu was marked around 11:30 AM via Chengdu. Subsequent to their arrival, the delegation convened a meeting with Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav and conducted an evening inspection of the commercial precinct of Thamel. Their schedule for tomorrow includes a visit to Bhaktapur Durbar Square and a meeting with Government Spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, scheduled for 2 PM.
The Chinese delegation, led by Yan, is expected to conclude their visit by returning home via Singapore Airlines on Thursday morning after a visit to Nepal Television. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, shares a cultural diversity akin to Nepal’s and is viewed as a key intermediary for China to establish connections with South Asian nations.
The provincial government of Yunnan has notably accorded significant importance to fostering relationships with Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The presence of a party leader from the same province in Nepal is anticipated to fortify the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
The Yunnan provincial government has been actively working towards promoting tourism and establishing direct air links with Nepal. Consequently, there is keen interest in the potential for a high-level visit, particularly given the existence of a direct flight route from Kunming to Kathmandu since June 14. It is understood that the Chinese delegation may engage in discussions with government officials to explore the possibility of maintaining this route.
Furthermore, the Nepalese government has made concerted efforts to ensure the utmost hospitality and security for Chinese guests, who are accommodated at the Marriott Hotel in Naxal, underlining the significance attached to this diplomatic engagement.
