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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is returning home today after attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit-2025 at the invitation of President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping. 

Prime Minister Oli had departed to Tianjin, China on August 30 leading a 23-member Nepali delegation. 

During the official visit, Prime Minister Oli held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin. 

Also on the occasion, the Prime Minister addressed the SCO Plus Summit in Tianjin. On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Minister Oli had held bilateral meetings with some world leaders. 

Nepal has been a dialogue partner of the organization since 2016. Established in 2001, the SCO has transformed into one of the largest regional organizations in the world. 

China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus are its full member states. 

Afghanistan and Mongolia are the observer nations. Nepal, along with Turkey, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Maldives, Myanmar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, are the dialogue partners of the SCO.  

On the occasion, PM Oli had a meeting with China's Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing, 

Likewise, bilateral meetings were held with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Prime Minister of Cambodia Dr Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Lao People's Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandone and Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh. 

PM Oli is accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghuji Pant, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, lawmakers Purna Bahadur Khadka and Chhabilal Bishwakarma, PM's Economic and Development Advisor Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, and other high-ranking government officials. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is in Tianjin, China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, visited the Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao Memorial Museum in Nankai District today. 

Zhou Enlai was a leader of the Chinese Revolution and a former Prime Minister of China. 

During the visit, Prime Minister was accompanied by First Lady Radhika Shakya, former Deputy Prime Minister and member of the House of Representatives Purna Bahadur Khadka, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghuji Panta, and Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey.

Similarly, other delegation members former Minister and Prime Minister's economic and development advisor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, former Minister and Member of Parliament Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amrit Bahadur Rai, Nepal's Ambassador to China Dr Krishna Prasad Oli, and China's Ambassador to Nepal were among the participants. 

Prime Minister Oli is leading the Nepali delegation to China to attend the summit at the friendly invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Sunday (August 31, 2025), Chinese and Russian state media reported, for a regional security summit that China hopes can counter Western influence in global affairs, CNN reported.

For the rare four-day visit to Russia's neighbour and largest trading partner, Mr. Putin arrived to a red carpet welcome, received on the tarmac by top-ranking city officials, a livestream of the event by Russia's TASS showed.

Ties between China and Russia are at their “best in history”, having become the “most stable, mature and strategically significant among major countries”, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said in its report of the arrival, according to CNN.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on Saturday, marking a significant step in strengthening Nepal-China relations. The meeting took place at the Tianjin State Guest House on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.

During his official visit to China, which will continue until September 3, Prime Minister Oli is set to address the SCO Plus Summit on September 1 and participate in events commemorating the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression on September 3. The visit also includes planned meetings with other world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh.

The discussions between Prime Minister Oli and President Xi focused on deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, infrastructure development, and regional connectivity. Both leaders also reviewed the implementation of agreements from previous high-level visits and explored opportunities for further collaboration within the SCO framework.

 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has departed for China on an official visit on Saturday morning. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is paying a visit to the People's Republic of China from August 30 to September 3, at the cordial invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Prime Minister has been invited to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.  

The Prime Minister is accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya.     

During the visit, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet with President Xi in Tianjin. He will also address the SCO Plus Summit in Tianjin on September 1. On the sidelines of SCO Summit, the Prime Minister will meet some world leaders attending the Summit. (RSS)

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli briefed the Parliament about his five-day official visit to China on Friday.

PM Oli is embarking on a visit to China on August 30 at the cordial invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the SCO Summit.

Apart from attending the SCO Summit, the Prime Minister will attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated by  issuing a press release on Wednesday. 

The high-level participation of Nepal at the SCO is expected to be a great opportunity for Nepal to further deepen Nepal-China relations and increase Nepal's proactive role in multilateral cooperation. 

During his visit to China, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the heads of state and governments from different countries attending the Summit.

PM Oli will leave for Tianjin City of China on Saturday morning and is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the same evening, according to the Ministry. 

The Prime Minister will address the SCO Summit in Tianjin on September 1. 

Prime Minister Oli will meet with Han Zheng, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, in Beijing on September 2. 

The PM will return home on September 3. 

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by his spouse, Radhika Shakya.

The entourage of the PM will comprise Raghuji Pant, Minister for Education, Science and Technology; Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Purna Bahadur Khadka, Member of the Parliament; Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Economic and Development Advisor to the Prime Minister; Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Member of Parliament; and the high-ranking government officials.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is all set to visit China this week to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, marking an important step in Nepal’s high-level diplomatic engagement with its two powerful neighbors—India and China.

This visit comes at a delicate juncture. Concerns in Kathmandu are growing over a renewed India-China agreement on trade through the disputed Lipulekh Pass. Against this backdrop, the SCO summit provides Oli not just a platform to engage with regional powers but also an opportunity to assert Nepal’s interests amid rising geopolitical complexities. Alongside attending the summit’s side events, Oli is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will be his second and third meetings with them respectively since assuming office for the third time in July 2024.

Oli’s foreign outreach has been consistent. In December last year, he visited China to finalize a framework agreement on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), one of Beijing’s top priorities in its engagement with Nepal. Similarly, his talks with Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the recent BIMSTEC meeting in Thailand highlight the frequency of high-level interactions. Yet, this week’s meetings are under particular scrutiny, as concerns over Lipulekh have resurfaced. On Aug 19,  India and China agreed to resume trade through the territory that Nepal claims as its own.

While Beijing has maintained a largely reserved stance, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi merely assuring that the India-China deal was not “targeted at any third country”, Nepal has been more vocal. Government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung confirmed that Kathmandu will raise the issue directly with both Xi and Modi. Meanwhile, Chinese think tanks argue that the dispute should be settled bilaterally between Nepal and India.

The timing of this trip also underscores a shift in Oli’s priorities—from domestic politics to foreign affairs. After China, he is expected to travel to India next month and later attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York in mid-September. Adding to this momentum, Vietnam’s Vice-president visited Nepal this week, exploring new avenues of cooperation in trade, education, and tourism, a sign that Nepal is quietly broadening its international engagements beyond its immediate neighborhood.

Domestically, Oli continues to stand on firm political ground. His main coalition partner, the Nepali Congress (NC), has remained supportive, allowing him to sideline opposition voices such as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa, however, has urged Oli to refrain from repeatedly claiming he will eventually hand over power to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba—a gesture seen by many as unnecessary flattery.

Within his own party, Oli maintains an even tighter grip. The CPN-UML is preparing for a statute convention that could abolish both the 70-year age limit and the two-term leadership cap, moves widely viewed as paving the way for Oli’s indefinite leadership. At the same time, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has re-emerged, opening a new office and holding political meetings. While Oli has downplayed her return to active politics, senior UML leaders like Ishwar Pokhrel appear supportive, whereas others such as Surendra Pandey and Yubaraj Gyawali remain cautious.

Interestingly, the Lipulekh controversy—once a dominant political issue—has lost much of its noise. Beyond the CPN (Maoist Center), RSP, and a few fringe left parties, most mainstream actors including NC and UML have chosen silence. This restraint is a stark contrast to earlier years when nationalist rhetoric dominated political discourse. Oli too has avoided inflammatory remarks, perhaps to preserve diplomatic decorum ahead of his meetings in China and India.

At the same time, the Maoist Center is preparing a nationwide campaign to strengthen its base ahead of local and national elections, though Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s attempts to topple the government appear ineffective. His tensions with senior leader Janardhan Sharma also persist.

Meanwhile, developments within Parliament continue. Ishwari Neupane of the NC has been elected chair of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, following the resignation of Ram Hari Khatiwada over his alleged involvement in document tampering related to cooling-off period provision in the Federal Civil Service Bill.

Outside Parliament, public discontent remains visible. Teachers have returned to the streets demanding better job security, pensions, and reforms in the education bill. The passage of the bill has been delayed due to disputes between NC and UML. 

Adding to these domestic challenges, sugarcane farmers have reignited their agitation over delayed subsidies and unpaid dues from mills. Beginning Aug 24, farmers from the Tarai staged a sit-in at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu, demanding full payment of a long-promised Rs 70 per quintal subsidy—half of which was recently slashed to Rs 35 due to budget shortages. They are also pushing for fairer valuation, removal of VAT, and inclusion in price-setting decisions.

Beyond politics and protests, policy issues continue to surface. After last year’s rhino census was postponed due to lack of funds, Nepal will this year conduct both rhino and tiger counts with support from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. On the agricultural front, paddy planting remains incomplete even as August draws to a close. Of the 1,376,466 hectares suitable for cultivation, 1,306,293 hectares (about 94 percent) have been planted, leaving 70,176 hectares still fallow.

Public health concerns are also mounting. The National Public Health Laboratory has confirmed cholera cases in Birgunj, with eight of ten tested samples returning positive. The Birgunj Metropolitan Health Division reported that 171 patients suffering from cholera and diarrhea have been treated and discharged, though results from two pending samples are awaited.

Finally, in a culturally significant ruling, the Supreme Court has declared that naked Hindu ascetics, known as Naga sadhus, are not obliged to wear clothes when visiting temples. The court affirmed that their centuries-old tradition of nudity is not obscenity, a decision warmly welcomed by the ash-smeared, dreadlocked devotees of Lord Shiva.

The entire preparations for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s China visit have been completed.

PM Oli is embarking on a five-day visit to China on August 30 at the cordial invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the SCO Summit.

Apart from attending the SCO Summit, the Prime Minister will attend the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated by  issuing a press release on Wednesday. 

The high-level participation of Nepal at the SCO is expected to be a great opportunity for Nepal to further deepen Nepal-China relations and increase Nepal's proactive role in multilateral cooperation. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made briefings to the members of the delegation on Thursday about the PM's visit at the Prime Minister's residence in the presence of PM Oli. 

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and Chief of Protocol Kumar Raj Kharel shared the details of the program and managerial aspects of the PM's visit. 

Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to inform the House of Representatives (HoR) about the visit on Friday, the Prime Minister's Secretariat said. 

During his visit to China, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the heads of state and governments from different countries attending the Summit.

PM Oli will leave for Tianjin City of China on Saturday morning and is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the same evening, according to the Ministry. 

Prime Minister Oli will address the SCO Summit in Tianjin on September 1. 

The Prime Minister will meet with Han Zheng, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, in Beijing on September 2. 

The PM will return home on September 3. 

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by his spouse, Radhika Shakya.

The entourage of the PM will comprise Raghuji Pant, Minister for Education, Science and Technology; Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Purna Bahadur Khadka, Member of the Parliament; Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Economic and Development Advisor to the Prime Minister; Chhabilal Bishwakarma, Member of Parliament; and the high-ranking government officials.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will raise the issue about the Lipulekh pass agreement signed between China and India during his visit to the northern neighbor.
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At a news conference organized to make public the Cabinet decisions on Wednesday, Spokesperson of the government, Prithvi Subba Gurung, shared that the Prime Minister would raise the issue about the agreement between the neighbouring countries during his participation in Sanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in China.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit China from August 30 to September 3.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gurung, mentioned, "The agreement between Foreign Ministers of India and China is against Nepal's sovereignty. This matter will be discussed during the high-level meeting between top leaders of neighbouring countries during the SCO Summit." 

Nepal and India are preparing for a sideline meeting between Prime Minister Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he mentioned. 

Minister Gurung opined that the Foreign Ministry on the behalf of the government of Nepal has already issued a diplomatic note about the agreement signed between foreign ministers of India and China regarding using business route via Lipulekh pass of Nepal. 

Meanwhile, he stated that the government would strictly follow the policy of not adding new and big projects as well as incorporating only the possible projects in its policies, programs and budget.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is leaving for a five-day visit to China on August 30.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made public the schedule of the Prime Minister’s five-day visit to China by issuing a statement on Wednesday. 

Accordingly, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin.

He is then scheduled to address the SCO Summit in Tianjin on September 1.

During the conference, Prime Minister Oli will hold sideline meetings with world leaders, the Foreign Ministry stated.

After attending the program, the Prime Minister will leave for Beijing.

There, he will meet Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on September 2.

During his visit to China, PM Oli willparticipate in the program organized to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Prime Minister Oli will return home on September 3. 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is on a weeklong visit to China from July 12 to 18, choosing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping before holding talks with US President Donald Trump following his re-election.

This marks Albanese’s second visit to China as prime minister, reflecting improving ties after years of strain. He will also meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, with talks focusing on trade, tourism, and artificial intelligence, according to Firstpost.

The decision to prioritize Beijing over Washington has drawn criticism from Australian opposition leader Angus Taylor, who questioned the government’s diplomatic focus. Albanese is not expected to meet Trump until later this year at the Quad summit or UN General Assembly.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, speaking at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, warned of China’s growing military buildup while affirming Australia’s close alignment with the US on Indo-Pacific security.

The visit comes amid a US review of the Aukus submarine deal and growing global uncertainty over Trump’s tariff policies. Despite tensions, China remains Australia’s top trading partner, Firstpost reported.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting China for six days, covering Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, to strengthen ties with Australia’s largest trading partner. He will meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and top legislator Zhao Leji, with trade and regional security high on the agenda, according to BBC.

Albanese said his government will “cooperate where we can, disagree where we must,” and act in Australia’s national interest. The trip follows his re-election and aims to reinforce economic ties—China accounts for nearly a third of Australia’s trade.

The visit includes top Australian business leaders and signals a stabilisation in relations after years of tensions and trade sanctions. Cooperation on green energy, while maintaining Australia’s commitment to Aukus despite Chinese criticism, will also be discussed.

Analysts say both countries are targeting stable connections rather than geopolitical alignment, with mature diplomacy permitting involvement in commerce, education, and culture—despite continued disagreements over China's military growth and the arrest of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, BBC reported.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone for the first time since the start of the trade war. The call, focused on trade, was described by Trump as “very positive.”

Both leaders exchanged invitations for official visits, though only China’s invitation to Trump was confirmed by Beijing, BBC reported.

Discussions come after a trade agreement stalled, with China blaming new US tech restrictions and the US accusing China of not resuming important mineral exports.

Trump defended the new Chinese student visa requirements. In order to prevent conflict, Xi cautioned the United States to handle Taiwan carefully, as stated by BBC.

Despite tensions, both sides signaled a willingness to keep talks open.

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari returned home on Monday after completing a 10-day China visit, during which she held talks with senior leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and government officials.

Her visit came amid her recent, unannounced but increasingly active involvement in party politics, drawing significant attention from both political and strategic circles. In the weeks leading up to the trip, Bhandari toured various provinces, engaging with local leaders and cadres, and has become more vocal about her ambition to lead the CPN-UML. She has ignored public concerns that former heads of state should stay away from active politics to preserve the dignity of the presidency. Bhandari was accompanied by Raghubir Mahaseth, head of the UML’s international department, Minister Damodar Bhandari and other senior leaders, who have distanced themselves from Prime Minister and party chairperson KP Sharma Oli. In Beijing, she was accorded a moderate level of respect.

Although Chinese President Xi Jinping did not meet her, Bhandari held talks with Chinese Vice-President Ji Bingxuan and Liu Jianchao, Minister of the CPC’s International Department and a prominent Chinese leader known for his close engagement with Nepali political figures.

Bhandari’s main event in Beijing was her participation in a conference of political parties from China’s neighboring countries, themed “Building a Community with a Shared Future with Neighboring Countries: Political Parties in Action,” held on May 25–26.

The reception Bhandari received as a senior UML figure must be viewed in the light of her past role and potential political future. As President from 2015 to 2022, she played a crucial part in enhancing Nepal’s engagement with China. She frequently encouraged successive governments to advance the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). During her tenure, she attended the second BRI summit in 2019 and helped finalize the protocol on the Transit and Transport Agreement signed in 2016.

In 2017, Bhandari launched Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book, “The Governance of China,” at a special ceremony held in Shital Niwas. She also endorsed China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) by attending a high-level video conference, despite opposition from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The year 2019 saw Xi’s historic visit to Nepal, during which several strategic agreements were signed, significantly deepening bilateral cooperation. These developments have shaped the Chinese perception of Bhandari as a dependable figure in Nepal's political landscape.

For Beijing, the return of a China-friendly leader like Bhandari to active politics could be welcome news. Members of her delegation have publicly claimed that China encouraged her to initiate efforts to unify Nepal’s communist parties—a long-held preference of the Chinese leadership. However, such claims should be taken with caution, as Chinese officials rarely make such direct statements.

Within the UML, some leaders believe that if Bhandari becomes party chair, the long-elusive unification with the CPN (Maoist Centre) could be revived—something hindered by personal rivalries between Oli and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. While Bhandari is certain to return to UML politics, it remains unclear whether she will take a confrontational path against Oli or whether Oli will voluntarily step aside. Oli has recently stated that his health permits him to remain politically active for the next 15–20 years, suggesting he is unlikely to support a unification narrative that credits Bhandari over himself.

Bhandari’s visit is unlikely to have any immediate or direct impact on UML’s internal dynamics, despite some sidelined party leaders hoping it will accelerate her rise to the helm. Her supporters are trying to portray the visit as an indication that China backs her leadership, suggesting she is capable of uniting Nepal’s fragmented communist forces. However, there are ample reasons to remain cautious. Open Chinese support for Bhandari could antagonize both Oli and the Nepali Congress (NC). A senior UML leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that China prioritizes political stability in Nepal and may support left unity only if it contributes to that goal—but without backing one leader at the expense of alienating others.

Nevertheless, the perception of Bhandari’s close ties with Beijing may cause ripples within the UML. Ironically, this perception could even bring Oli and New Delhi closer. China, meanwhile, appears to have realized that its earlier emphasis on communist unification risked alienating other key actors in Nepal, including the NC. Given the current state of relations, observers say China is unlikely to openly push for left unity at the cost of broader political balance.

In Beijing, Liu Jianchao met Bhandari and, according to the Chinese readout, acknowledged her longstanding contributions to China-Nepal relations. “Inter-party exchanges play an important role in China–Nepal relations,” the readout stated. The CPC expressed its willingness to strengthen engagement with all Nepali political parties and deepen exchanges in governance and administration through the “political party +” channel. Bhandari, for her part, emphasized Nepal’s commitment to finding a development path suited to its own conditions and expressed interest in learning from China’s experience in party-building and governance. 

During her address at the CPC dialogue, Bhandari praised the CPC’s governance model, stating: “The historical experience and contemporary practice of the CPC are of great reference to Nepal’s economic and social transformation and also provide important reference for developing countries around the world to explore the path of modernization.” She further stated that China’s vision of building a “community with a shared future” offers a powerful example for regional cooperation and solidarity. By amplifying China’s development model in her speeches, Bhandari is aligning herself closely with Beijing’s strategic messaging.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli began his four-day official visit to Beijing on Monday at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Premier Li Qiang. This marks Oli’s first bilateral foreign trip since assuming office for the third time in July, signaling a significant step in Nepal-China relations.

During the visit, Oli is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and hold bilateral talks with Premier Li. Discussions will focus on mutual interests, including connectivity, infrastructure development, trade and transit, energy cooperation, tourism, and fostering people-to-people ties, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two countries are also expected to sign some key agreements. Notably, China will provide a $20mn grant to Nepal, alongside a new bilateral development cooperation framework to be implemented from 2025 to 2029. Projects such as the Tokha-Khahare Tunnel Road, the Special Economic Zone at the Korala border, and the feasibility study for a cross-border railway line are likely to advance, Information and Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung said. Oli has chosen China over India as his initial foreign destination, breaking the longstanding practice of Nepali prime ministers beginning their tenure with a visit to India. 

Oli’s choice to visit China first rather than India is “not unexpected, but rather a reflection of the increasing policy choices of South Asian countries,” Lin Minwang, a deputy director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Sunday. He further noted after coming to power, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu also chose to visit China first instead of India, and other South Asian countries are actively developing relations with China. “This reflects changes in Nepal's domestic politics and its policy toward China.”

Besides choosing China for his first official trip, Oli’s visit is drawing attention for other reasons as well. One of them is China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

A task force from the two parties has revised the draft of the BRI implementation plan initially proposed by the Chinese side in 2020. The document, now titled Framework for Cooperation instead of BRI Implementation Plan, has been sent to the Chinese side for initial negotiations, though it is yet to be finalized.

This trip comes at a time when China is pushing to strengthen BRI cooperation. There are concerns over what sort of agreement will be signed with Beijing on BRI on which India and western countries are cautioning Nepal to maintain transparency and avoid possible debt burden. Domestically, there are also suspicions that the coalition of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML could crack, as two parties have divergent views on how to deal with China. Oli has a history of fostering strategic agreements with China, including the landmark Transit and Transport Treaty of 2016. 

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning, highlighted the importance of Oli’s visit in strengthening bilateral ties. “Despite changing international and regional dynamics, China-Nepal relations have grown steadily over the past 69 years, exemplifying equality and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes,” she said. Mao emphasized deepening strategic trust, advancing high-quality BRI cooperation, and achieving progress in the China-Nepal partnership.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is leaving for Beijing this morning on a four-day official visit to China.

At the cordial invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, PM Oli is embarking on the visit from December 2-5.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PM Oli will call on Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. 

Prime Minister Oli will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang and exchange views on various issues of mutual interest.

Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress Zhao Leji is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Oli.

Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to address a program at Peking University during the visit.

He is also scheduled to address the Nepal-China Business Forum to be jointly organized by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

PM Oli will be accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya.

The Nepali delegation includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, PM's Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Economic and Development Advisor Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada, parliamentarians, high-ranking government officials, private sector representatives and media persons.

The PM-led delegation is scheduled to return home on December 5.