CPC’s Foreign Affairs Department Chief Liu’s visit to Nepal so far (audio report)

July 11, Kathmandu: The Foreign Affairs Department Chief of the Communist Party of China Liu Jianchao is in Kathmandu on a four-day visit leading an eight-member delegation.

Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed him at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Sunday. This is Liu’s first visit to Nepal after his appointment as the Foreign Department Chief.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba met Liu on Sunday.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat said at the meeting held at Baluwatar, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.    

Likewise, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Narayan Khadka also met Liu on Sunday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two Ministers discussed various matters of Nepal-China relations and exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation.

The Visiting Chinese delegation led by Foreign Department Chief Liu is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Chairmen of CPN UML K P Sharma Oli and CPN Maoist Centre Puspa Kamal Dahal Prachanda among others on Monday and Tuesday.

This is another high-level visit from neighbouring country China after the visit of the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in March.

Liu’s visit has been seen as being significant for expanding the long-standing friendly relations between Nepal and China.

Previously, he had held a virtual meeting with the top leadership of the ruling parties Nepali Congress and the Maoist Centre, and the main opposition party CPN (UML) after his appointment in the Foreign Affairs Department.