Kathmandu, September 26

Spokesperson for the government Gokul Baskota has said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal was confirmed. However, the date would be fixed later.

Spokesperson Baskota, who is also the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said the government was awaiting the visit of the Chinese President and preparing to make the visit successful. Making public the decisions of the recent Cabinet meetings on Thursday, he said, “We attach high importance and respect to the visit.”

He expressed his confidence that Xi’s visit would take bilateral relations to a new height and not only the government, but also the media and citizens would play a positive role in it.

According to Baskota, Nepal and China have trouble-free relations.

He said it had been 23 years since a high level visit from China had taken place and Nepal attached significant importance to Xi’s visit. The government has taken this year as the year of high level visits in diplomatic dealings.

Nepal is for reaping benefits from the socio-economic achievements that its neighbour China has made at an unprecedented pace.

In response to a journalist’s query whether the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) had adopted Xi Jinping’s ideology following recent ideological training held in Kathmandu, Minister Banskota said, “NCP is for Nepali citizen’s path. Revolution in any country is based on the desire of its citizens.”

He blamed that some media wrote ‘razzmatazz, Beijing exported thoughts’ over the training. “Anyone can adopt a philosopher’s good thoughts. Democracy and socialism were also propounded in foreign countries. So, it is useless to talk negative. Rather, we need to focus how the Chinese president’s visit could be made successful and economic benefits ensured to Nepal,” Baskota said.

According to him, it was not unusual for ministers to attend trainings organised by their party.

“Don’t distort issues,” he warned, saying, “We endorse people’s mandate.”

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has endorsed monitoring directives on implementing Right to Information-2018 and Nepal Trust (first amendment) Regulations-2019.

According to government Spokesperson Baskota, the meeting has provided Rs 300,00 each in supporting treatment and livelihood to acid attack victim Jeni Khadka and Muskan Khatun.

Similarly, the meeting has fixed the byelection of ward chair at Bharatpur Metropolitan City Ward No 16 on November 30 and decided to inform the Election Commission in this regard.

Permission has been granted to Narayan Prasad Arjel and Ram Ji Thapa to receive medal from foreign countries. The meeting has also decided to transfer Additional Inspector General of Police, and extend the tenure of Major General Prabhuram Sharma.

The Cabinet meeting has also granted permission to Chancellor of Nepal Academy to sign a MoU between Nepal and Hebrew Writers Association on exchanging academic activities and cooperation.

According to Baskota, a decision was taken to sign preliminary agreement on operating air services between Nepal and Australia. The meeting also decided to endorse the treatment support to former president Ram Baran Yadav to be provided from the Delhi-based Nepali Embassy.