Kathmandu: China has asked Nepal's leaders to work out a solution to the country's political impasse through consensus at the earliest, as a high-level delegation from the communist nation met key players in the crisis-hit country.
The Chinese delegation led by chief of the International Division for South Asian Affairs of the Communist Party of China, Ai Ping, met Nepal's top leaders during their three-day visit that comes at a time of uncertainty and political turmoil in the country.
They met Maoist chief Prachanda, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and held discussions on various issues, including the political situation in the country, the peace process, and constitution drafting, officials said.
Ai said that China wants to see the conclusion of Nepal's peace and constitution drafting through national consensus at the earliest.
Meanwhile, UML chairman Khanal again asked Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to step down to pave way for formation of a national government through consensus among political parties.
"Prime Minister Bhattarai should immediately step down from the post so as to pave way for forging national consensus," he said.
Alleging Bhattarai of obstructing the process, he warned the government not to bring the budget for the new fiscal year, beginning mid-July, without a consensus among political parties.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, July 01, 2012, 23:04