After India visit, Nepal foreign minister arrives in China to outline new government's policy

Nepal foreign minister Shishir Khanal arrived in China on Sunday for talks with top Chinese officials amid expectations of a reset in bilateral ties following the Rastriya Swatantra Party's massive victory in the Himalayan nation earlier this year.Khanal's four-day visit comes a week after his trip to India, his first foreign visit after the RSP government took charge in March, ending over a decade of rule by Nepalese communist parties.Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told media on Friday that China attaches great importance to its relations with Nepal. "We will take the visit as an opportunity to work with Nepal's new government to enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and make greater progress in China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation," Lin said.Khanal's visit is regarded as significant as he is expected to outline the China policy of the RSP government to the Chinese leadership. The RSP won a massive victory in parliamentary elections following Gen-Z protests that led to the fall of the pro-China government headed by K P Sharma Oli.Ahead of his visit, Khanal told The Kathmandu Post that his talks with Chinese leadership will focus on dispelling misperceptions about the RSP government's foreign policy orientation.

"My visit is focused on dispelling such narratives, building trust and confidence, and discussing the priorities of the new government so we can make tangible progress in different sectors," he said.During his stay, Khanal will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and meet other high-level Chinese dignitaries, according to foreign ministry officials on both sides. He will also participate in an investment conference organized by the Nepalese embassy in Beijing to promote foreign investment in Nepal and interact with the Chinese business community.The RSP's victory marked an end to the dominance of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) headed by Oli and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda. Both leaders had advocated closer political and economic ties with China and played a central role in advancing Beijing's influence in Nepal through measures like the Belt and Road Initiative.Khanal visited Delhi from June 5-7, during which he held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and asserted that Nepal accords "highest priority" to its relationship with India.

Before Khanal's Delhi visit, RSP President Rabi Lamichhane made a five-day trip to India at the invitation of BJP president Nitin Nabin and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 3.Former Nepali Ambassador to China Rajeshwor Acharya told Nepal's national news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) that Khanal's China trip could help create an atmosphere of trust and take bilateral relations to a new height. He emphasized that just as Nepal has consistently supported China's territorial integrity, Beijing should also respect Nepal's sensitivities on issues such as Lipulekh. The agency further quoted Acharya as saying that mutual respect and regional understanding remain key to a healthy bilateral relationship.Based on inputs from PTI