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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli returned today after completing a four-day official visit to the People's Republic of China on Thursday.

Leading the Nepali delegation, Prime Minister Oli had left for Beijing on December 2 for the China visit, at the friendly invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Prime Minister Oli and his delegation are scheduled to reach Kathmandu this afternoon.

While in Beijing, Prime Minister Oli met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, held bilateral talks and oversaw the signing of various agreements including a framework agreement on Belt and Road Cooperation in presence of his Chinese counterpart Li.

The Prime Minister also delivered a keynote speech under the theme of Comprehensive Democracy: A Journey towards ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ at a programme organized in Peking University in Beijing. He also addressed the 'Nepal-China Business Summit' on Wednesday.

The Nepali delegation led by Prime Minister Oli includes his spouse Radhika Shakya, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Economic and Development Advisor to the Prime Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada, members of parliament, high-ranking government officials, private sector representatives and media persons.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 15. 93 points to close at 2,734.93 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 5. 02 points to close at 464. 01 points.

A total of 16,797,727-unit shares of 307 companies were traded for Rs 8. 36 billion.

Meanwhile, Khanikhola Hydropower Co. Ltd. (KKHC) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 98 percent. Likewise, Support Microfinance Bittiya Sanstha Ltd. (SMB) was the top loser with its price dropped by 8. 37 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 53 trillion.

Nepal will now be able to export thermally processed water buffalo meat to China. Officials of the two countries signed a protocol to facilitate water buffalo meat export to China during the China visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. This agreement is part of nine bilateral understandings reached between the two nations on Tuesday.

The protocol enables Nepali businesses to export cooked and processed water buffalo meat to China under Chinese guidelines. This follows the cabinet’s approval on June 30 of an agreement to export cooked buffalo meat to China.  Nepal and China held preliminary discussion on meat exports during former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s China visit in September last year.

According to Global Times, China has beefed up efforts on the diversification of beef imports in 2024. This is expected to reduce market fluctuations due to over-reliance on any single market, while providing more opportunities for other countries through high-level opening-up.

Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development say China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) had provided Nepal with a 150-page document outlining stringent standards for meat imports. These include disease-free certification, hygiene standards and compliance with phytosanitary measures. Only the meat of water buffaloes under 30 months of age and raised under specified conditions will qualify for the export.

According to the MoALD, Nepal produces around 194,090 tons of water buffalo meat annually. Nepal’s water buffalo population is estimated at around 5.13m.

China, the largest importer of meat in the world, can be a lucrative export market for Nepal. The northern neighbor imported about 2.74m tons of beef in 2023, up 1.8 percent year-on-year, hitting a new high, according to Global Times. Imports over the first four months of 2023 stand at 1m tons, up 22 percent compared to the same period of 2023. It is difficult to get data on water buffalo meat consumption in China as Chinese customs import data categorise buffalo meat together with other cattle raised for meat under the category ‘meat of bovine animal’.

China mainly imports beef from countries including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. It recently lifted a ban on five Australian beef exporters as demand outpaces its domestic production.

Janakpur Bolts defeated Pokhara Avengers by seven wickets, securing their third consecutive win in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket tournament.

In the match held at the Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground on Thursday, Janakpur Bolts chased down a target of 139 runs in 17.1 overs, losing three wickets.

Lahiru Milantha top-scored for Janakpur Bolts with 45 runs, followed by James Neesham (40), Asif Sheikh (32) and Harsha Thakur (13).

Pokhara Avengers' bowling attack saw Captain Kushal Bhurtel, Michael Leask, and Bipin Khatri each take one wicket.

After losing the toss, Pokhara Avengers were invited to bat and posted a total of 138/7 in 20 overs.

Marcus Critchley was the top scorer for the Avengers with 35 runs, followed by Michael Leask (25), Andris Gous (20), Raymon Reifer (17), Dilip Nath (11) and Dinesh Kharel (10).

For Janakpur Bolts, Lalit Rajbanshi was the standout bowler, taking three wickets, while James Neesham claimed two wickets. Mohammad Mohsin and Kishore Mahato took one wicket each.

CPN (Maoist Center) has drawn a conclusion that the results that party got in local-level by-elections were exciting and they have prepared a basis for the party to fight alone in the coming election.

A meeting of office-bearers held at the residence of Party Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal at Khumaltar today drew such a conclusion.

"Preliminary review of local level by-elections was carried out in the meeting. The meeting drew the conclusion that the results that party got from both points of views-- number of seats and popular votes was exciting", said Party Spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota after the meeting.

"The Maoist Center has taken as an achievement of getting victory in Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality of Rukum East and Sarkegad of Humla as well as many other wards and receiving popular votes in the local level by-elections.  The results have shown that people's trust towards Maoist has increased", he added.

Sapkota shared, "The by-elections have given us an additional basis for greater leftist unification and reconstitution of communist party. A standing committee meeting has been scheduled for December 12 and a central committee meeting will be held after that. Both meetings would review it."

The meeting also decided to make the party's local-level conference and vigilance assembly effective. Central leaders would be assigned at local level for the vigilance assembly, he mentioned.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 150, 700 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 150, 400 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 880 per tola today.

The Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA), Nepal, in partnership with the Prishtina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS), Kosovo, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, with the support of the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS), successfully convened the event titled “Prishtina Dialogue: Where the Balkans Meet South Asia” in Prishtina on November 25, 2024.

This significant initiative sought to enhance cooperation between Kosovo and South Asian nations, establishing a robust platform for dialogue and collaborative engagement, reads a statement issued by AIDIA.

Since its declaration of independence in 2008, Kosovo has emerged as a significant actor within the Western Balkans, actively pursuing European integration while adeptly navigating intricate geopolitical dynamics. The region's economic growth, resilience in post-conflict recovery, and commitment to forging strategic partnerships render Kosovo a compelling case study for global discourse. The objective of this forum was to establish a platform for examining Kosovo’s evolving role, fostering connections between the Balkans and South Asia, and engaging both state and non-state actors in substantive discussions regarding Kosovo's trajectory and its influence within the Western Balkans and beyond.

The Prishtina Dialogue was initiated by Sunil KC, the Founder of AIDIA, in collaboration with Ambassador Guner Ureya, who was then the Director of the Department for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo during his tenure as the Ambassador of Kosovo to Dhaka.

Together, they envisioned the event as a flagship initiative for Kosovo, aimed at fostering greater engagement with South Asia and beyond. Additionally, this event marks a significant milestone for AIDIA, as it coincides with the organization’s 10th anniversary.

The event transpired over several days, commencing on November 22 with a series of high-level meetings and engagements. the South Asian delegates led by AIDIA had the opportunity to engage with notable figures, including the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti; Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora; Glauk Konjufca, Speaker of the Parliament; and Fikrim Damka, Minister of Regional Development, according to the statement.

Furthermore, delegates visited significant places of historical and economic importance throughout Kosovo, thereby acquiring a deeper understanding of the nation’s culture and historical context. These interactions culminated in the principal event, which took place on November 25.

The South Asian delegation, comprising representatives from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, along with panelists from Kosovo and the Balkans, included notable stakeholders, policymakers, leaders, think tank representatives, and members of the media. The discussions focused on enhancing Kosovo’s partnerships with South Asian nations, emphasizing the importance of people-to-people interactions and business-to-business (B2B) collaboration in sectors such as trade, investment, and cultural exchange.