Chinese leader Li calls on President Bhandari; matters on bilateral interests discussed

President Bidya Devi Bhandari was paid a courtesy call by visiting Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Li Zhanshu.

At a delegation-level goodwill meeting held at the President's Office, Sheetal Niwas, on Wednesday, matters related to bilateral interests were discussed.

Chairperson Li arrived in Kathmandu via special aircraft in course of his four-day official visit to Nepal at the invitation of Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota.

On the occasion, President Bhandari highlighted the traditional friendly ties between Nepal and China and expressed her confidence that such high-level visits would further consolidate the persisting bilateral relations.

At the meeting, Chairperson Li said the goal of his visit was to implement the pact signed in course of the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal on October 2019.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, visiting Chinese leader Li highlighted the purpose of his visit to further enhance the reciprocal trust at the political level and deepen mutual collaborations in diverse sectors.

He also extended best wishes on the Constitution Day of Nepal which falls on September 19 (Monday).

Earlier, Li-led Chinese delegation had made an on-site inspection of the post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Bhaktapur Durbar Square as well as the indigenous art and culture there.

On the day of the arrival of the Chinese delegation, Speaker Sapkota and Chairperson Li had delegation-level talks and also signed a six-point memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation.

Likewise, he held a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the latter's office, Singha Durbar, on Tuesday afternoon.

At the delegation-level meeting with the PM, they discussed matters related to bilateral trade, investment, connectivity, return of Nepali students pursuing education in China for continuity of their study, resumption of flight services, and re-opening of border entry points.

Also on the same day, Chairperson Li and National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina had a courtesy meeting. Matters related to inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in light of Nepal-China relations were discussed on the occasion.

The Chinese leader also had a good will meet with CPN-UML chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Centre) chair and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday.

On the same day, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Narayan Khadka held a courtesy meeting with Li. They dwelt on various aspects of Nepal-China relations on the occasion.

The top Chinese legislator arrived Nepal last Monday leading a 67-member delegation comprising six high-level officials, security personnel, journalists, and other staff.

The Chinese delegation is scheduled to return to the home country on September 15 morning wrapping up the official visit.