Kathmandu: Nepal`s Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayankaji Shrestha on Tuesday left
for China on a week-long official visit aimed at strengthening
bilateral ties and to prepare for Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao`s
visit next month.
Talking to the journalists at Tribhuvan International
Airport before his departure, Shrestha said his visit is aimed
at strengthening the bilateral relations.
Shrestha is scheduled to hold talks with his Chinese
counterpart Yang Jiechi in Beijing and discuss wide-ranging
issues of bilateral interests between Nepal and China as well
as matters relating to the promotion of trade and tourism,
investment in infrastructure development.
He will also discuss about development cooperation with
Chinese leaders during the visit, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said in a press release.
Shrestha will also meet Wang Jiarui, Minister of the
International Department of the Communist Party of China
Central Committee.
The high-level visit comes at a time when China has
stepped up pressure on Nepal to check activities of Tibetan
exiles and a pro-Beijing Maoist-led government is in place.
Shrestha is scheduled to start the visit from Tibet
where he will meet Baima Thinley, Chairman of the Tibet
Autonomous Region. He will also travel to Beijing, Shanghai
and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
This is the first visit to China by a Nepalese Foreign
Minister after the country turned into a republic three years
ago.
Minister Shrestha`s visit to China is also aimed at
preparing ground for Chinese Premier Wen`s official visit to
Nepal in the third week of December.
PTI
