Nepal President Bhandari Embarks On Visit to China

Nepal President Bhandari is heading to China for a nine-day visit on April 24, 2019.

The President’s visit comes in view of the upcoming Second Belt and Road Forum under China’s Belt and Road initiative.

During her visit, President Bhandari will attempt to get Chinese grants for railway and tunnel projects for the Himalayan nation.

Nepal has shortlisted nine agendas related to China-introduced Belt and Road initiatives including:

• Inter-country transmission line from Lhasa to Kathmandu
• Tunnel connection from Kathmandu to Naubise

Some other proposals include:

• Opening Hilsa checkpoint in Humla
• Kerala checkpoint in Mustang
• Constructing Road from Galchhi to Kerung

Bhandari will also hold a bilateral meeting with her Chinese President Xi Jinping and sign a trade and transit treaty for Nepal-China trade.

This treaty will pave the way for Nepal to use four Chinese seaports and two dry ports.

Nepal-China bilateral consultation meet

According to the Nepal Foreign Affairs Ministry, the two nations will hold a joint meeting to announce the incorporation of Nepali projects under China’s initiative at the end of the BRI conference on April 27, 2019.

“The declaration will help execute projects in a much expeditious way. One of the major components of BRI in Nepal will be the cross-border connectivity project, named Trans Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network. The forum declaration will incorporate this as well,” said Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is accompanying Bhandari to China.

Bhandari’s visit marks the first state visit by a Nepal President to China. None of Nepal’s past presidents have visited Beijing.