Nepalese PM to visit China next week

Kathmandu, Aug 18 (UNI) Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachand is set to leave for China on Saturday to take part in the concluding ceremony of Beijing Olympics, reports said here today.

Chinese ambassador to Nepal Zheng Xiangling had met the PM on Sunday and invited him to visit China to attend the concluding ceremony of the Olympic Games, Nepalnews reported.

China had invited president Ram Baran Yadav to attend the inaugural ceremony but he could not go due to the political situation in Nepal.

UML minister Pradip Nepal, who had resigned four months ago, had attended the inaugural ceremony.

This will be the fist visit of Nepal's newly elected Maoists prime minister to any foreign country since he was elected last week. This is the first time that a Nepali prime minister visits China before visiting India.

India was the first country to invite the new prime minister. A delegation of Indian political leaders that is currently in Nepal met Dahal today and forwarded him Indian premier Manmohan Singh's invitation for a tour of India.

Meanwhile, President Ram Baran Yadav will administer the oath of office to Prime Minister Prachand at a function to be held at the president's office in Shital Niwas today.

Indian leaders led by Sharad Yadav, president of India-Nepal Parliamentary Forum, will also attend the oath taking ceremony.

Meanwhile, the three parties alliance has not been able to allocate the ministerial portfolio due to the difference over the allocation of ministries.

UNI XC SLD RK1342