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Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China Li Zhanshu visited Bhaktapur Durbar Square on Wednesday. Bhaktapur Municipality Chief Sunil Prajapati welcomed the Chinese delegation led by Li. During the visit, Chinese Speaker Li inquired about the pictures reflecting the art and culture of Bhaktapur. On Tuesday, Li paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. He also held separate meetings with National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Timinsina, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday. He will return home on Thursday. Leading a 67-member delegation, leader Li arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit on Monday.

US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry held a farewell meeting with former Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter’s residence in Khumaltar on Wednesday. During the meeting, the duo discussed matters related to bilateral ties between the US and Nepal, Dahal’s Secretariat said. Meanwhile, Dahal congratulated Berry for his successful tenure. Dean Thompson has been recommended as the new US envoy to Nepal.  

Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China Li Zhanshu is paying a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the Rashtrapati Bhawan at 4 pm today. Similarly, the Chinese delegation led by Li is scheduled to make an on-site tour of the post-earthquake reconstruction projects at Bhaktapur Durbar Square at 9:30 am today. Li is currently on a four-day official visit to Nepal. He arrived here on Monday at the invitation of Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota. Speaker Sapkota and the Chinese dignitary held delegation-level talks at the Federal Parliament Building, New Baneshwor the same day. They also signed a letter of agreement on exchange of cooperation on the occasion. Chairman Li remained busy in high-level meetings on Tuesday, the second day of his visit. He held separate meetings with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka as well as on National Assembly Chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina. Earlier on Tuesday, Li and his delegation had separate meetings with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and the CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Li's delegation comprises 67 persons including six high-ranking officers, security personnel, journalists and other staff. CPC Chairperson Li and his delegation will return home on September 15 on a special flight.

The foreign secretaries of India and Nepal have discussed the boundary dispute along with other outstanding bilateral issues. Nepal Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal and his Indian counterpart Vinay Mohan Kwatra held a meeting in New Delhi on September 13. They discussed multiple areas of cooperation between Nepal and India covering trade, transit, connectivity, infrastructure, power sector, irrigation and inundation, agriculture, investment, development cooperation, health sector competition, culture, and people-to-people relations, among others, says Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the boundary issues, the statement says, “They also discussed the boundary matters. In this regard, they exchanged views on completing the boundary works in remaining segments through established bilateral mechanisms.” The Foreign Secretary-level mechanism is mandated to look after the border issues. They expressed satisfaction with the progress made in different areas including the power sector, construction of transmission lines, railway connectivity, construction of ICPs, motorable bridges, and other important infrastructures. They also discussed the early conclusion of the Transit Treaty including its Protocol and the Memorandum to the Protocol and expediting the review of the treaty of the trade. Matters related to fertilizers supply, and waiver of export restrictions in wheat, sugar, paddy, and rice were discussed as well.