KATHMANDU, JUNE 14

Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka today defended the recent visit by Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya to a Tibetan refugee camp.

Khadka made these remarks at the House of Representatives after lawmakers accused the government of breaching Nepal's 'one China policy' by allowing Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya to visit a Tibetan refugee camp in Kathmandu.

"I urge all not to see high-level visits with suspicion," he added.

The minister said the government kept in mind Nepal's foreign policy, independence, and other features of its foreign policy while carrying out exchange of high-level visits. He said foreign leaders/diplomats would continue visiting Nepal and Nepal's leaders/diplomats would also keep visiting foreign countries.

Khadka's remarks were aimed at leftist leaders' demand that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba cancel his trip to the United States of America expected in July.

He also said that the government was ready to accept the eminent persons' group report.

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli had recently criticised Deuba for not accepting EPG report. Deuba hit back at Oli, saying he should have received the report when he was the PM. Khadka said the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact would aid Nepal in achieving its long term development goals.

Khadka said America's State Partnership Programme was a humanitarian assistance program and was not a treaty. He said SPP was of temporary nature.

He clarified that media reports that Nepal was being dragged into a military alliance with the USA was wrong.

"This government is as patriotic and nationalist as any other previous government was," he added. He said the government would not sign any military alliance agreement with any country.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 15, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.