A surge in high-level visits from China

A high-level Chinese government delegation is visiting Nepal at the invitation of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The five-member team under Ye Hanbing, Vice-governor of Sichuan Province and Commissioner of the Public Security Department of the province, is arriving in Nepal on Tuesday morning. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs are coordinating the visit.

According to sources, Hanbing’s team will meet with the Foreign Minister, Home Minister, Home Secretary, and other high-ranking officials. Home ministry sources indicate that discussions on matters of mutual and security interest will take place during the meeting. The visiting team includes Deng Hua, Zheng Xiaoqing, Zhong Ke, and Thang Jianxin. 

Of late, there has been a surge in high-level visits from China.

Immediately following Hanbing’s visit, a delegation under Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong will arrive in Nepal. According to the foreign ministry, Sun's team will participate in the 16th round of the Nepal-China Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism meeting. The foreign ministry of Foreign Affairs is making preparations for this visit.

Recently, China has intensified its activities in Pokhara and Lumbini, in addition to Kathmandu. For the Chinese New Year, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal organized various programs in Pokhara and Lumbini. Just last week, a high-ranking Chinese official visited Lumbini and Kathmandu. Chen Ruifeng, Chinese Minister for the National Religious and Cultural Affairs Administration, visited Lumbini last Wednesday, accompanied by Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, Huang Zhihui, director-general of the General Bureau of National Religious Affairs Administration, and Venerable Master Yin Shun, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China.

Minister Chen laid the foundation stone for a structure to be built next to the Chinese monastery in Lumbini. Participants in the foundation-laying ceremony included Yin Shun, Ambassador Song, Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) Vice-chairperson Lhyarkal Lama, Registrar of Lumbini Buddhist University Tilakram Acharya, and Deputy Mayor of Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality Kalpana Harijan.

Minister Chen also visited the office of Vice-chair Lama at the LDT. He stated that his visit aimed to promote tourism in Lumbini and sustain cultural relations between Nepal and China. Minister Chen toured the Maya Devi Temple, Ashoka Pillar, Pushkarani Pond, and Shanti Deep to gather information about Lumbini.

Also, Vice-chair of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Bateer, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, mutual cooperation, and the implementation of various agreements between the two countries. Prime Minister Dahal expressed satisfaction over the gradual implementation of the agreements reached during his recent visit to China. He thanked the Chinese government for operationalizing the traditional 14 checkpoints along the Nepal-China border and for gradually implementing important agreements.