BEIJING, April 27: Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed the various Heads of State and Governments attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation for a ‘Leaders’ Roundtable’ under the Forum on Saturday.

The Roundtable is taking place at the Yanqi Lake International Convention Center located in the outskirts of Beijing, some 35 kilometers from Beijing International Airport.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has also arrived at the Convention Centre to attend the Leaders’ Roundtable taking place as part of the BRF.

The roundtable is focused on different sessions including ‘Boosting Connectivity to Explore New Sources of Growth’, ‘Strengthening Policy Synergy and Building Closer Partnership’, and ‘Promoting Green and Sustainable Development to Implement the UN 2030 Agenda.

President Bhandari arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on a nine-day State visit, at the invitation of her Chinese Counterpart. RSS

KATHMANDU, April 22: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali has said that President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s state visit to China strengthens the bilateral relation between Nepal and China.

President Bhandari is scheduled to pay a state visit to China on April 24 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Bhandari is scheduled to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held in Beijing April 24 to 27.

“President Bhandari’s participation in the forum will be significant since it will deliver a message that Nepal is committed to Belt and Road Initiative,” said Foreign Minister Gyawali. President Bhandari is also scheduled to address the forum.

“We have already sent a list of agendas under the BRI to the Chinese side. A discussion is being held over the paperwork,” he added.

According to Gyawali Nepal and China are likely to sign more than half a dozen of agreements during the President Bhandari’s state visit.

“Kerung-Kathmandu Railway Project is also Nepal’s top priority,” he said.

“We are focusing on the expediting the Kerung-Kathmandu Railway Project by preparing its detailed project report during the delegation level talks,” he added.

President Bhandari, after the forum, will hold a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Jinping.

“Likewise, Koshi, Kaligandaki and Karnali corridors are also on the cards,” he added.

“Our agenda is also signing the Protocol on Transit and Transportation,” he said.

The landmark agreement was signed by the two countries during Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s first visit to China in 2016.  The protocol will allow Nepal Nepali traders to use Chinese sea and land ports for the third-country trade.

“And more agreements are on the cards. We will update about it soon,” he added.