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Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the House of Representatives Dol Prasad Aryal.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, they exchanged views on bilateral relations, parliamentary collaboration, development partnership and regional and international issues. 

Sharing that Nepal-China relation is historical, friendly and based on panchasheel, Speaker Aryal laid emphasis on further strengthening the relations, according to Speaker Aryal's Secretariat. 

The government is clear on the issue not to allow use of Nepali territory against China, he opined, reiterating that Nepal is fully committed to the 'One-China Policy'.

The Speaker underscored that the incumbent government has focused its attention for development, good governance, technology promotion and to end corruption, expecting Chinese government's support and cooperation to it. 

Expressing concern over increasing conflict in the world, he argued that Nepal is always in favour of peace, dialogue and collaboration. 

Similarly, Ambassador Zhang conveyed the best wishes message and handed over the congratulation letter from the National People's Congress, China.

The Ambassador expressed commitment to continuously support Nepal's sovereignty, independence and regional integrity. 

The Chinese Envoy mentioned that China was ready to collaborate in infrastructure, connectivity, border management and development projects under Nepal-China collaboration, adding electric vehicles were supported by the Federal Parliament Secretariat. 

Ambassador Zhang extended an invitation to the Speaker, lawmakers and parliamentary office-bearers to visit China.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has initiated a process to withdraw vehicles from employees and office-bearers, who have been using government vehicle facilities against existing laws.

The Office has so far pulled back 622 government vehicles from different ministries, their subordinate bodies and constitutional commissions. 

The preliminary investigation conducted by the Prime Minister's Secretariat found the fact that though there is a legal provision that only gazetted first class officers or office-bearers above them get vehicle facility, lower-level employees are using government vehicles. 

In the course of investigation, the details of vehicles used by employees and office-bearers of all government bodies were demanded. 

Based on the details, the OPMCM had on April 23 directed all ministries, their subordinate bodies and constitutional commissions to immediately return such vehicles. 

The government took this step in order to reduce financial burden taking place in the name of fuel, maintenance and vehicle facility.

The Nepali Congress has expressed its concern over the government's move to adjourn the Parliament and enact laws through ordinances.

In a statement today, Congress spokesperson Devraj Chalise said that the practice of adjourning the Parliament and enacting laws through ordinances is not correct in terms of democratic values, parliamentary dignity and constitutional process. "The government's decision is a clear violation of the legislative powers by the executive." 

The Congress has stated that choosing the path of ordinances despite having a clear majority in the house is a dangerous sign of centralization of power. 

It has urged the government to remain fully committed to democratic values, parliamentary practices and constitutional dignity, to respect the role and dignity of Parliament, and to immediately reconsider such steps.

Coordinator of the taskforce formed to prepare a concept paper on amendment of constitution Ashim Shah has urged everyone not to be swayed after the rumour that the constitution would be amended unilaterally. 

The government does not act one-sidedly but takes onboard diverse suggestions for amending the constitution, Shah made it clear. 

He said it during a consultation with legal experts and constitutionalists held at the Prime Minister's Office, Singh Durbar on Monday. 

Broader discussions will be held with all stakeholders including political parties to forward this significant task.

The taskforce was mandated to prepare a concept paper on amendment to the constitution in line with the 100-point action plan of the government. "Constitution amendment is a multi-stakeholder concern, so national consensus will be reached for it," he reiterated. 

Shah reminded that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) had prioritized this issue in its commitment paper. Comprehensive discussions would be held with subject experts and their views included in the paper.

Taskforce member secretary Liladhar Subedi made a presentation on major issues identified for amendment.

Constitutionalists and senior advocates including Dr Bipin Adhikari, Purna Man Shakya, Radheshyam Adhikari,Govind Sharma 'Bandi', Shambhu Thapa, Mira Dhungana and Tikaram Bhattarai gave suggestions during the meeting held on Monday.