Nepal PM Oli to visit China in March

After choosing India as his first overseas destination, Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will head to China in mid-March, a media report said on Tuesday.

A meeting of Council of Ministers on Monday 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.

Nepals will start preparing for the visit, Minister for Information and Communications 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 be wrong for him to visit New Delhi until the trade blockade with India is lifted. Reports had said that Oli could visit China before India due to hiccups in Indo-Nepal ties over the Madhesi issue.

But, the 63-year-old premier has rejected reports that he played the China card against India.