Kathmandu: Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli embarked on a four-day official visit to China on December 2, marking a significant diplomatic engagement in his current tenure. This visit, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, aims to strengthen bilateral relations and explore avenues of cooperation across various sectors.
During his stay from December 2 to December 5, Prime Minister Oli will hold high-level discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li in Beijing. The agenda includes deepening trade relations, enhancing connectivity projects, and reviewing the progress of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Nepal joined in 2017. Nepal is also expected to discuss specific projects, such as cross-border railways, trade route expansions, and hydropower collaborations.
Oli’s visit highlights Nepal’s efforts to diversify its foreign relations, particularly amid geopolitical competition between India and China in South Asia. Experts suggest that Oli’s focus will be on securing grants rather than high-interest loans to ensure sustainable development without compromising Nepal’s economic sovereignty.
Accompanied by a 39-member delegation, Oli will also prioritize operationalizing agreements like the 2016 trade and transit deal, improving infrastructure at key border points, and fostering air connectivity. This visit is anticipated to further solidify Nepal-China ties, underscoring Nepal’s intent to position itself as a land-linked rather than landlocked nation.
