PM Oli leaves for China

KATHMANDU, June 19: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has left for a six-day state visit to China on Tuesday, at the invitation of his counterpart Li Keqiang.

Oli boarded a special Himlayan Airlines flight leading a 116-member delegation including four ministers, half-a-dozen lawmakers, over two dozens government officials, media persons and other individuals.

The Prime Minister is be accompanied by his spouse, Radhika Shakya, Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun ‘Ananta’, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Rimal, Members of Parliament, high-ranking Government officials, representatives of private sector and media persons.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold delegation level bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart and will also meet with senior Chinese leaders, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will address Nepal-China Business Forum and think tanks in Beijing.

During the visit, the two countries will also sign some agreements and memorandum of understandings. Bilateral discussions will be held and MoUs signed on matters relating to infrastructure development, investment, energy, tourism among other sectors under the one belt one road initiative, said Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi. “The major objective of the visit is to further deepen bilateral relations and cooperation”, he said.

Prime Minister Oli is also scheduled to visit Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region of China, on his way back to Kathmandu, where he will meet with the provincial leaders. The Prime Minister and the delegation will return home on June 24.