Nepal PM KP Oli to visit China in mid-March

Kathmandu, Mar 1: After choosing India as his first overseas destination, Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will head to China in mid-March, a media report said today.

A meeting of Council of Ministers yesterday decided on Oli's maiden China visit since he assumed office in October last year, My Republica reported but did not mention dates for the trip.

The government will start preparations for the visit, Minister for Information and Communications and Spokesperson of government Sher Dhan Rai said. The meeting also reviewed the premier's recent six-day India visit last month, describing it as a historic and productive one.

Rai said that during the meeting, it was assessed that the India visit had helped resolve the differences with the southern neighbour and augment the multi-faceted ties shared between these two countries. Oli had earlier said it would not be appropriate for him to visit New Delhi until the blockade of key trade points with India is lifted.

Some reports had said that Oli could visit China before India due to hiccups in Indo-Nepal ties over the Madhesi issue and China was being seen as getting closer to Nepal by supplying fuel to the crisis-hit landlocked nation. But, the 63-year-old premier has rejected reports that he played the China card against India.

"I don't believe in playing cards for one against the other. We want to develop friendly relations with both our neighbours on the basis of equality and mutual benefits," he said on Sunday.

Oli said that during his India visit, he assured the Indian leadership that he would not allow the Nepalese territory to be used against any of its neighbours. "We will definitely honour and respect India's genuine concerns and interests," he said.

PTI