Kathmandu, July 8
Liu Jianchao, the head of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party, is visiting Nepal soon, a source at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu confirms.
However, the visit and its date are yet to be officially announced.
This will be Liu’s first foreign visit since he took over the role in the first week of June. “It means Nepal is a priority for China,” the source claims.
“There is a tradition that the countries with strong brotherly and party relationships are selected for first visits, meetings and direct conversations as soon as someone assumes a key official position. Nepal has been the first country in that process this time.”
This is also important because China has been vocal about Nepal’s relationships with other countries of late.
A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirms the visit, saying the duration will be around four days.
The Chinese Communist Party leader is certain to meet President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli and CPN-Maoist Centre leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal during the Kathmandu sojourn. He is likely to meet Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota also.
