The Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli is set to visit China next month, according to an announcement by Nepal’s foreign ministry. This marks a significant shift from the traditional practice of Nepalese leaders prioritizing India as their first official destination after taking office.
The four-day visit, beginning on Tuesday, will include meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. This trip underscores Oli’s ongoing effort to strengthen ties with China, a continuation of his strategy from previous terms, aiming to reduce Nepal’s reliance on its southern neighbor, India. Oli has often navigated a delicate diplomatic balance between the two regional powers, favoring Beijing to explore new avenues of economic cooperation and infrastructure development.
This visit is likely to focus on enhancing bilateral relations, economic partnerships, and connectivity initiatives between Nepal and China.