KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said he was confident of Madhes-centric parties' participation in the local level elections slated for May 14.

Upon his return from China after a week-long visit at the Tribhuvan International Airport today, the Prime Minister said the elections would be held in the participation of the agitating parties.

He said China also reiterated its wish that the polls should be held in the participation of all political forces so as to create an environment of political stability.

Meanwhile, Dahal urged journalists not to harbour any doubt about the May 14 polls.

The Prime Minister claimed that his China visit gave a new dimension to the existing Nepal-China relations.

(Updated)

PM Dahal concludes China trip in Lhasa, returns home

Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar welcomes Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (left) as he arrives at the Tribhuvan International Airport after his week-long visit from China, in Kathmandu, on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Photo: RSS

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal returned home after taking part in the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan Province of China.

Upon his return, his deputies, Cabinet members and senior government officials welcomed the Prime Minister at the Tribhuvan International Airport this morning.

PM Dahal was on a week-long visit to China to attend the event at the invitation of the Forum’s General-Secretary Zhou Wenzhong.

During the visit, he had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday, which he said was significant and fruitful.

PM Dahal had held discussions to further expand the Nepal-China mutual relations with the Chinese leaders including the President.

Lhasa engagements

Concluding the trip, Dahal on Tuesday also visited Lhasa of Tibet, the autonomous region of China, where he was welcomed by the government official Qi Zhala on the premises of the Tibet Hotel.

Dahal held discussions with leaders of Tibetan government focusing on the issue of making the existing bilateral mechanism at the local level between Nepal and Tibetan governments more active.

Dahal on the occasion stressed that Tibet was a gateway to promote Nepal's trade, tourism and cultures by connecting Nepal with mainland China and others autonomous regions.

During the discussion, the PM had asserted that no any movement would be allowed in Nepal to be held against China and its people.

Prime Minister Dahal was accompanied by his spouse Sita Dahal, Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and other high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.