Nepal-China need to work on understanding: Liu

Kathmandu, December 19

Visiting Chinese leader and a politburo member of the Communist Party of China, Liu Qibao today said China wishes to see a successful and smooth implementation of Nepal’s new constitution.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, he also hoped for an early resolution of the current political stalemate and also to see the country move forward on the path of economic development.

The 45-minute meeting dwelt on enhancing Nepal-China relations in multiple areas.

“During the meeting, views were exchanged on matters of mutual interest including the development of infrastructure, improvement of connectivity, promotion of trade and investment, maintaining high-level contacts and visits, and cooperation in tourism etc,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

Liu arrived on a three-day visit yesterday. He is the most high-profile Chinese leader to visit Nepal in the last three years. He holds the rank of a vice-premier and controls the CPC’s influential propaganda department.

According to the prime minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Rishi Raj Adhikari, Prime Minister Dahal said that the government was trying to resolve political problems through constitutional amendment so as to bring all stakeholders on board.

Dahal further said his government was fully committed to further strengthening political, economic and social ties between Nepal and China, read a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

On the occasion, Dahal said that Nepal was desperate to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Nepal at the earliest possible date and urged Liu to convey this message to the Chinese President.

The Chinese leader, on his part, said China attaches high importance to its relations with Nepal and appreciated Nepal’s “One China Policy”.

He also said that his country was very positive towards opening Nepal’s northern routes to China, including the Kodari Highway, which has been blocked since the earthquake of April 2015.

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krisha Bahadur Mahara and Liu had jointly inaugurated a China Festival at Hotel Yak and Yeti.

During the occasion they also witnessed signing of four agreements regarding enhancing cooperation on press, publications and broadcasters.

Liu cancels meeting with Deuba, Oli citing health reasons

Visiting politburo member of the Communist Party of China and head of the party’s publicity department, Liu Qibao today cancelled his scheduled meetings with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPM-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli citing health reasons.

Liu was supposed to call separately on Deuba and Oli this evening. Later, he conveyed his inability to meet up the two former prime minister, citing illness, sources close to Deuba and Oli told The Himalayan Times.

Liu had called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter’s residence in Baluwatar and attended an inauguration function of China Festival at Hotel Yak and Yeti following the cancellation of his meetings with Deuba and Oli.

A source said the Chinese side had conveyed that Liu was suffering from seasonal cold following his landing on a special flight in Kathmandu yesterday.

In his absence, Liu’s deputy in the delegation  Guo Yezhou, a vice-minister of CPC’s International Department  called on Deuba and Oli separately.

Guo had called on NC President Deuba at the latter’s residence in Budhanilkantha, while he met with UML Chair Oli at Balkot.

According to a release issued by Nepali Congress Central Office, the Chinese delegation had sought to know from Deuba how the polity in Nepal would move ahead, to which the former prime minister hoped the issues would be resolved soon.

Guo also extended Deuba an invitation to visit China, to which the latter’s responded positively.

During his meeting with Oli, Guo hoped that Nepal-China agreements that were sealed during Olili’s visit to China in March would be implemented smoothly, according to a statement released by the CPN-UML’s Party office.

He also conveyed to Oli that the CPC Politburo leader Liu couldn’t meet him due to illness.

According to UML leader and former foreign minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, the Chinese side had inquired how Nepal would manage the time to hold elections of local bodies, provinces and general elections before the expiry of the current Parliament.