Submit your Article

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has announced to provide relief to Bajhang earthquake victims.

The Prime Minister, who had reached Bajhang to inspect the quake-hit areas, announced to provide Rs 50, 000 to construct temporary houses to the families whose houses were completely destroyed in the earthquake.

Similarly, the Prime Minister has announced to provide Rs 200, 000 to the family of a man who died after being trapped in the landslide following the earthquake.

He said that Rs 15, 000 to 20, 000 immediate relief expenses will be provided to other families affected by the earthquake based on the number of the family members.

The Prime Minister has also announced to provide relief materials like tents, blankets, medicine, food, clothing, and materials needed by differently-abled people.

He said that the materials will be arranged in coordination with the three levels of government.

Prime Minister Dahal said that the arrangements will be made to provide free treatment to the injured and the government offices, community buildings and schools damaged in the earthquake will be reconstructed soon.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funded projects have paved the way for new opportunities in areas of economic cooperation between Nepal and the US.

He also expressed his hopes of enhancing trade connectivity for Nepal throughout Asia, and that the effective implementation of the compact’s projects would contribute significantly to Nepal's economic development and poverty reduction. He appreciated the US Government for continued cooperation and assistance.  Speaking at a program to celebrate the launch of the MCC-Nepal compact, PM Dahal and senior leaders expressed their full-commitment to expedite the implementation of MCC projects.

The five-year program was launched on 30 Aug 2023, with an Entry into Force (EIF) letter exchange between Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and MCC Vice-president-Compact Operations Cameron Alford. The project will have to be completed within the next four years and six months.   

EIF is an important milestone for MCC compacts as it marks the fulfillment of necessary conditions and sufficient preparations to ensure successful completion of compact projects within a five-year timeline. Minister Mahat expressed his belief that the MCC Nepal Compact’s projects will support Nepal’s growth and benefit the people of Nepal through better roads and more reliable electricity.

In her remarks, MCC CEO Albright said: “We worked with the Government of Nepal to set ambitious goals with this program in order to achieve great things with the people of Nepal. We stand ready to be a steadfast partner and have full confidence in the leadership of the Government of Nepal and their implementing agency, MCA-Nepal.”

“We are ready to face the inevitable challenges together and deliver a successful program,” US Ambassador Dean R Thompson added that “the MCC-Nepal Compact is another in a long line of important US initiatives supporting economic growth for the Nepali people and marks yet another significant milestone in the 76-year long friendship between Nepal and the United States.”

During her three-day visit, MCC CEO Albright met with key government officials and stakeholders in the implementation of the Compact, attended a tree-planting ceremony to emphasize the importance MCC places on environmental protection and climate preservation, and observed ongoing work with the Department of Roads in training engineers to use climate-smart, sustainable technology to create a safer transportation network that is easier to maintain and better for the environment.  

Highlighting the Compact’s aim to foster inclusive economic growth for the people of Nepal, MCC CEO Albright also met with women executives who shared with her their experiences, work, and hopes for a more prosperous Nepal.

The GoN and MCC signed the MCC Nepal Compact on 14 Sept 2017 for two projects, the Electricity Transmission Project and the Road Maintenance Project, which will result in more reliable electricity and more cost-effective transportation in Nepal.

Alice Albright, chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, is confident that two vital projects—a transmission line’s construction and road upgrades—under MCC Nepal Compact will be completed within the five-year deadline. Initiated in August, just four years and 11 months remain to meet this goal.  

In an exclusive conversation with a select group of journalists, Albright highlighted that the top leaders of Nepal’s three major political parties—CPN (Maoist Center), Nepali Congress, and CPN-UML—stand firmly in favor of these projects’ execution. After meetings with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, she said that she received their unequivocal commitment to removing any obstacles that might hinder the progress of these projects. 

During the press conference, senior officials from MCA-Nepal reported that they have not encountered any major challenges in the field during the project’s implementation.

Highlights

• Investment $500m from the United Nations and $197 from Nepal
• Electricity transmission project: Up to 66 percent Nepal homes and businesses will gain better access to clean Nepali hydropower
• Road maintenance project: Up to 130 km cost-effective, safer, climate sustainable roads along national highways
• Introduction of innovative, sustainable full depth reclamation and superpave asphalt technology for road maintenance

The joint press statement issued after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s China visit contains elements that can drag Nepal into the geopolitical rivalry between China and US, experts have warned. They fear that the statement may even give rise to questions over Nepal’s long-standing policy of non-alignment.

It is obvious that Nepal does not want to get caught in the US-China rivalry. But Clause 6 of the statement reads, “Recognizing that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, the Nepali side is against ‘Taiwan independence’.”

Though not explicitly mentioned in the document, parts of GCI and GSI have been incorporated in the press statement.  In the past, Nepal used to reaffirm its commitment to one-China policy without further elaboration. The document explicitly states that Nepali side is against Taiwanese independence. The document further says that Nepali Nepali side reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle.

Geopolitical analyst Vijay Kanta Karna argues that it is wrong to mention “principle” instead of “policy” in the joint statement. “How will Nepal apply this principle in other areas?” he questions, describing the use of the word “principle” instead of “policy” in the document as ‘very concerning and disturbing’.

According to Karna, Nepal has been consistently expressing commitment to “one-China policy” in the official document without much talk about Taiwan. Now, however, Nepal itself has gotten involved in this issue, he observes, “Nepal has become a part of international geopolitics between America and China unnecessarily, This is an unwarranted statement.”

This policy is different from the policy that the erstwhile Sher Bahadur Deuba government had adopted. When US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2022 visit to Taiwan caused tensions, Nepal just said it was closely following the developments and reiterated its commitment to one-China policy, despite pressure from the Chinese side to side with it on the issue of Taiwan. The statement shows Nepal is trying to align with China’s national security, Karna says.

Foreign policy expert Gopal Khanal agrees that there was no need for Nepal to mention Taiwan in the joint statement because our one-China policy covers all issues. As there was no progress on BRI, Dahal agreed to such a language to appease the Chinese, Khanal says: Such acts may put us in a difficult situation.

On Global Security Initiatives (GSI) and Global Civilizational Initiative (GCI), China expected Nepal to support and welcome the initiatives. According to the officials, this was mentioned in the first draft of the statement, only to be omitted after the Nepali side did not agree. Nepal has welcomed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) with two projects under it already implemented in the country.

“China supports Nepal’s independent choice of social system and development path that suits its national conditions,” the joint statement reads further, in a marked departure from the past. 

PM Dahal’s China visit has failed to make remarkable progress on development cooperation and it was heavily focused on security issues. Per the statement, the two sides agreed to expedite the ratification of the China-Nepal Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, though the matter is sub-judice in Nepal’s Supreme Court.

The reasons behind the inclusion of terms like ‘social system’ and ‘development path’ in the joint statement aren’t clear, either. According to analyst Karna, ‘social system’ is a part of GCI and Nepal’s development path has already been determined in Nepal’s Constitution and there are no questions over it in Nepal. Experts fear that such carelessness on the part of the PM may affect Nepal’s principled position of not engaging in great power confrontations and sticking to the policy of non-alignment.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has left for Bajhang on Friday to inspect the quake-affected areas.

Prime Minister Dahal left for western Nepal on a Nepal Army chopper this morning, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to inspect the quake-affected areas and hold a meeting with the District Disaster Management Committee.

The executive head of the state said that the process of distributing relief materials to the Bajhang quake victims soon.

During a meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council held in Singha Durbar on Thursday, Prime Minister Dahal said that the process of distributing relief materials to the quake victims and reconstructing the damaged structures will be taken ahead.

Gunamati Dhami (40) of Jayaprithvi Municipality-11, Okhal had lost his life to the earthquake on Tuesday.

Police said that the quake caused damage to 135 houses in the district.

Two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 6.3 on the Richter scale respectively jolted Bajhang district on Tuesday afternoon.

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma has come down heavily on the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led ruling coalition, likening it to a slow poison for the republic and questioning its commitment to democracy, the Constitution and its conduct of foreign relations. 

Oli launched a multi-pronged attack against the Dahal-led dispensation through his address to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, saying, “This government cannot administer one fatal dose (to democracy and the republican order). Nonetheless, it is acting as a slow poison for democracy and the Constitution. 

He accused the Dahal-led dispensation of suppressing the voices of the people and conspiring to render the Parliament useless by not giving businesses to the House and its committees. 

Oli went on to elaborate the characteristics of the dispensation thus, “While this government does not do what the Constitution has told it to do, it does what the Charter has barred it from doing—without fail”. 

Referring to the recent Cabinet decision to declare Fagun 1—the day the Maoist insurgency was waged 27 years ago (13 Feb 1996)—as a public holiday, the UML chair accused the government of glorifying violence through the move. The decision to celebrate the day has further hurt the sentiments of conflict victims, Oli said, demanding that the next Cabinet meeting withdraw the decision. 

He also protested the government move to grant blanket amnesty to criminals in the name of marking Constitution Day and turning the President into an entity that does the government’s bidding. 

Oli also took the government to task on ongoing investigations into corruption cases. The government opened Lalita Niwas scam files with much hullabaloo, now it is finding it hard to close them, Oli claimed, “The (60-kg) gold-smuggling case is also giving the government a hard time.” 

The government’s good governance campaign is actually aimed at shielding smugglers and murderers, he went on. 

This dispensation has appointed those candidates, who failed exams for district judges, as well as those who helped out election candidates from the ruling dispensation as judges, he maintained, adding that it is futile to hope for a better performance from this government. 

The conduct of diplomacy also came under Oli’s crosshairs as the latter blamed PM Dahal for failing to raise Nepal’s concerns during his recent visits to the United Nations, China and India.   

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has briefed the party about his recent visit to the United States of America to attend the 78th Session of United Nations General Assembly and the subsequent official visit to China.

In a meeting of the party office-bearers today, Dahal said Nepal's participation in the UNGA had helped promote Nepal's identity globally.  "From Nepal's participation in the UN mega event, the world community could know about Nepal better."

Talking about his visit to the northern neighbor, the Prime Minister said bilateral agreements and understandings reached during the visit were of long-term importance for Nepal's development, according to party Vice-Chairman and spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota.

"The meeting with the UN general secretary and other meetings held on the sidelines of the event were important," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying in the party meeting.

The Prime Minister was learnt to have described the agreement for cooperation between the National Planning Commission and China's National Development and Reform Commission, on the development of cross-border transmission lines and on agriculture and science technology as important ones.

 The meeting instructed the party leaders and cadres to contribute to making the ' transformation campaign' launched by the party since September 2 successful.

Prime Minister Dahal Dahal had on September 16 departed for the United Nations headquarters in New York and had directly embarked on the China visit from there, beginning on September 23.  He returned home on September 30.

Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Alice P. Albright, who arrived in Kathmandu along with her team on Sunday evening, is scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today.

The Albright-led American delegation arrived in Kathmandu, a month after the formal beginning of the MCC Compact implementation.

The MCC compact implementation formally began on August 30.

The Albright-led delegation landed in Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu via Qatar on Sunday.

During her stay in Nepal, Albright is scheduled to inquire about the progress and problems in MCC and also observe some areas of the MCC project.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to withdraw its latest decision of hiking the price of petroleum products.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting of the Council of Ministers today, Minister for Communications and Information Technology and government spokesperson Rekha Sharma said the Prime Minister has already directed the NOC to take back the price hike.

"The Prime Minister has directed the Nepal Oil Corporation to withdraw its decision of raising the price of petroleum products effective from today itself. Although the Corporation has adopted the automated pricing system, the PM issued this directive keeping in mind the problems this (the decision to hike price) would create to the people during the festival time," she said.

The government spokesperson said that the NOC will issue a notice today itself retaining the earlier price of petroleum products.

NOC on Saturday hiked the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 6 per liter, of kerosene by Rs 2 per liter and aviation fuel (both domestic and international) by Rs 8 per liter.

Similarly, the price of LP Gas was increased by Rs 215 per cylinder.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held a meeting in Baluwatar on Sunday.

During the meeting, the duo discussed formation of a high-level probe commission to investigate the gold smuggling case.

It has been learnt that the meeting ended on a positive note.

The Prime Minister will be addressing the House of Representatives (HoR) session today and the announcement of the formation of the Commission was likely before the session commences.

It may be noted that the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) had on July 19 confiscated around 61 kilos of gold that was smuggled into the country via Tribhuvan International Airport.

According to UML whip Mahesh Bartaula, the meeting ended on a positive note and they were close to a consensus regarding the agenda and jurisdiction of the Commission.

Though the ruling and opposition parties earlier agreed to constitute the Commission, consensus on its agenda and jurisdictions was awaited.

The UML continues to obstruct the House following the confiscation of the gold, demanding the formation of a high-level probe commission to deal with the gold scam.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is currently on an official visit to China, held a bilateral meeting with Communist Party of China (CPC) Secretary of the Sichuan Province Wang Xiaohui-led Chinese delegation on Friday.

Communist Party of China (CPC) Secretary of the Sichuan Province

Recalling the high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and the agreements signed between the two countries, Prime Minister Dahal expressed his belief that the visit to Chongqing, Tibet and Sichuan and the meeting with party chiefs will be a new milestone in the implementation of the agreement and the development of a new and high-level relations between the two countries.

On the occasion, Secretary Wang expressed his belief that Dahal is a good friend of China and that Nepal-China relations will be developed on a new basis.

Wang said that they are committed to implement the agreements signed between Nepal and China.

Prime Minister Dahal-led delegation is scheduled to return home from Chengdu on Saturday.

Nearly six months after coming to power, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal embarked on his first diplomatic tour in May, with New Delhi as his inaugural stop. 

In July, Dahal visited Italy to attend the United Nations Food Summit, and in the second week of this month, Dahal flew to New York to participate in the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations. There, he rubbed shoulders with the giants of global politics, including the likes of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

After attending the UN gathering, he jetted off to Beijing for an official visit to Nepal’s northern neighbor. This visit was a significant milestone for Nepal, marking the continuation of a delicate balancing act—maintaining strong ties with three major global powers: India, China, and the United States.

Remarkably, during his visits to New Delhi and Beijing, Dahal deftly steered clear of contentious issues that had historically strained relationships. Instead, he pivoted towards economic collaboration and development partnerships. In India, topics like the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report, border disputes and Agnipath Scheme were set aside. Similarly, in Beijing, projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s new map, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilizational Initiative were put on the back burner.

Dahal’s strategic focus on development and cooperation was evident. He sought support from all three global powers to expedite Nepal's transitional justice process—a top priority for his government. The international community, particularly Western nations led by the United States, has been urging Nepal to conclude this process promptly.

At the United Nations General Assembly, Dahal highlighted Nepal's transformation from an era of armed conflict to an inclusive and nationally driven peace process over the past 15 years. He made it abundantly clear that transitional justice was the linchpin of his administration's agenda, appealing to the world for support.

However, India and China have not laid out their positions regarding Nepal’s transitional justice process, though New Delhi briefly raised this issue in the UN Human Rights Council in 2015. International community and the UN are concerned mainly on the issue of serious human rights violations on which they believe there should not be blanket amnesty.

Dahal’s Beijing trip was mainly focused on the development and security fronts. While concrete progress on the Belt and Road Initiative remained elusive, Dahal assured senior Chinese leaders of Nepal’s commitment to their core interests, including acknowledging the One-China principle and firmly opposing Taiwan independence and Tibet independence movement. 

With an ever growing geopolitical tension between China and the Western world, Beijing is more concerned about its security interests in Kathmandu than ever. As security gained prominence, China sought bilateral legal treaties with Nepal, including a Mutual Legal Treaty and Extradition Treaty, although Nepal remained non-committal.

The implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative remained a focal point for Beijing. Despite seven years since the initial agreement, the two countries are still working to finalize its implementation plan, with some provisions, particularly those related to security, causing contention. The Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilizational Initiative (GCI), on which China is seeking Nepal’s endorsement, also remain the topics of debate. However, Nepal showed support for the Global Development Initiative (GDI), as it is implemented through UN agencies and doesn't raise security concerns.

In the realm of energy cooperation, Dahal’s visit to China achieved modest progress. Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in energy, particularly in hydropower development and cross-border transmission lines. They also announced plans to construct a 220 KV cross-border power transmission line.

Before his visit to China, Dahal had expressed a desire to strike a power trade deal, but the necessary infrastructure is yet to be built. Of late, China has been expressing its concerns regarding India’s “monopoly” in Nepal’s hydropower sector, where the interests of India, China, and the United States collide. 

During Dahal’s visit to New Delhi, a significant development unfolded, with the Indian cabinet deciding to purchase 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal, creating opportunities for regional energy trade and development. But India’s policy bars Chinese companies from selling the power in the Indian market. 

In his dealings with the United States, Dahal maintained a cautious approach. He refrained from engaging with the State Partnership Program and Indo-Pacific Strategy, instead focusing on the implementation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement. The MCC, which came into effect in August with a five-year deadline, encountered hurdles, but Dahal was committed to resolving them. The declarative interpretation, a component of the MCC’s parliamentary approval, remains a point of concern.

The United States, on its part, demonstrated a commitment to expanding its engagement with Nepal through increased development assistance. The USAID pledged $2m to support Nepal’s economic stabilization, job creation, investment mobilization, and democratic progress. Earlier USAID had decided to provide a $6.9m budget for the next five years. The new support was announced during the USAID’s Democracy Delivers event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in the presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power.

Strengthening democracy and combating corruption in Nepal were top priorities for the United States, while Dahal’s objective is seeking Washington’s support to conclude Nepal’s transitional justice.

Above all, Dahal’s key diplomatic priority is to maintain cordial relations with New Delhi to secure his political standing. Hence, he approached his visit to Beijing cautiously, not wanting to upset India by signing deals on BRI, energy trade and other issues. Of late, Dahal has also maintained a good relationship with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) to Middle-Income Country (MIC) status is another pressing issue on Nepal's international agenda. Nepal sought support from the international community to finalize its LDC graduation strategy, raising this matter during discussions in Beijing, New Delhi, and the United Nations General Assembly. In his address to the UN assembly Dahal affirmed Nepal's commitment to a smooth, sustainable, and irreversible transition to MIC status by 2026. 

Nepal’s key international agenda

Transitional justice: Government has tabled a bill related to transitional justice and seeking the support of the international community to conclude the process.

PM Dahal is of the view that the new bill addresses the concerns of the victims, strike a right balance between peace, justice and reparation, and to make the transitional justice process broadly owned by the society. Considering the concerns of the international community, PM Dahal has said that there would not be blanket amnesty. 

LDC graduation: Nepal is graduating from LDC status by 2025 and expressing commitment with the international community to make the graduation smooth, sustainable and irreversible. Nepal is in the process of finalizing the smooth transition strategy of graduation. Nepal is seeking international support in this process. 

Climate Change: Climate Change has emerged as one of the major agenda of Nepal’s foreign policy conduct. Addressing the UN assembly, PM said : Climate vulnerable mountainous countries like Nepal have been bearing the severe brunt of climate change. The Himalayas are the source of freshwater for over two billion people. Global warming has induced rapid receding of ice in our Himalayas, Dahal said,  It has not only eroded the health of our mountains but also endangered the lives and livelihoods of millions of people living downstream.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is currently on an official visit to China since September 23, is leaving for Chengdu from Mansarovar in China's Tibet this morning.

PM Dahal is scheduled to take a flight from Ngari Gunsa Airport at Mansarovar to Lhasa Airport at 9:45 am local time and then will fly to Chengdu from Lhasa.

The PM would reach Chengdu at 14:30 local time this afternoon.

In Chengdu, the PM is scheduled to visit the Panda Breeding Centre.

This evening, the PM will meet the Secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC), Sichuan Province Committee, Wang Xiaohui.

Secretary Wang will host a dinner in honor of PM Dahal.

The PM had arrived in Lhasa from Chongqing city on Wednesday and visited Mt Kailash and Mansarovar Lake on Thursday.

PM Dahal held bilateral meetings with different leaders in Lhasa and also visited Potala Palace and other sites in Lhasa.

The PM is scheduled to return home from Chengdu on Saturday.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said advancing towards social justice, good governance and prosperity by promoting religious tolerance, national unity, social goodwill and emotional bond is the national agenda of the hour.

Extending his best wishes on the occasion of the Indra Jatra festival today, the head of the government expected that the festival would inspire all to achieve the goal of prosperity by further strengthening out the Constitution and promoting national unity, social goodwill and harmony.

Describing Nepal as a multilingual and multicultural nation with diverse and unique natural features, he said,'' Our civilization, religions, culture, festival and lifestyle reflect our rich history."  He reminded that the federal democratic republic enshrined by Nepal's Constitution is the matter of pride for all the Nepali citizens.

Indra Jatra, the festival dedicated to the God Indra, the deity of rain and good harvest, is historically observed by the Newar community particularly in the Kathmandu Valley.

On the occasion of the festival, the Prime Minister wishes peace, prosperity and happiness to the entire Newar community including Nepali sisters and brothers living in the country and abroad.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is currently on an official visit to China since September 23, is scheduled to visit Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake today.

He arrived in Lhasa, Tibet on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister will depart from Lhasa to Mount Kailash from Gonggar Airport on a Tibet Airlines flight.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reached Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, an autonomous region of China that borders Nepal, today in the course of his official visit to China.

The Prime Minister is presently on an official visit to the northern neighbor beginning on September 23.

He reached Tibet from Chongqing of China at 12:00 noon as per the local time. Upon arrival at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport, the Prime Minister was received by officials of the Tibet government led by its executive Vice President.

In Lhasa, the Prime Minister will attend an interaction to be organized at the Office of Consul General of Nepal. He is scheduled to visit Potala Palace at Tibet and Jokhang Temple today itself.

He is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Wang Junzheng, Secretary of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee.

The Prime Minister's entourage is to stay in Lhasa today.

He is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Narayan Prakash Saud, Minister for Water Supply, Mahindra Ray Yadav, and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, among others.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is leaving for Lhasa of China's autonomous region Tibet today.

Prime Minister Dahal, who is on an official visit to China since last Saturday, is leaving for Lhasa from Ching Chong city this morning.

As per the local time, PM Dahal will reach the Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 12.05 pm.

PM Dahal will attend an interaction scheduled to take place at Lhasa-based Office of Consulate General of Nepal this afternoon.

PM Dahal is also set to visit Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Tibet.

The Prime Minister is also having a bilateral meeting with Secretary of Communist Party of China Xixhang autonomous regional committee, Wang Junzheng.

The PM entourage comprises Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prasad Saud, Minister for Drinking Water Mahindra Roy Yadav, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala and others.

Earlier, PM Dahal had arrived in Ching Chong city from Beijing on Tuesday.

He held a meeting with Communist Party of China (CPC) central member and also enquired about the initiatives taken by the Ching Chong Metropolis in agriculture sector.