President Yadav, Maoist chief Prachanda to visit China

Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav and Maoist chief Prachanda are heading for China next week to attend the Shanghai Expo.

Kathmandu: Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav and Maoist chief Prachanda are heading for China next week to attend the Shanghai Expo, according to sources.

President Yadav will leave Kathmandu for Shanghai on October 26, whereas Prachanda would leave on October 22 for his fifth visit to China in two years, they said. This will be President Yadav`s first visit to China after he assumed the office two years ago. In 2008, Yadav turned down an invitation to visit Beijing to attend the inaugural function of Olympic Games due to fluid political situation at home.

Prachanda, however, had visited China in 2008 on his maiden visit to any foreign country after assuming the post of Prime Minister. At that time, Prachanda was invited to attend
the closing ceremony of Beijing Olympics.

President Yadav`s visit would be confined to Shanghai Expo, while Prachanda is likely to tour Beijing to meet Chinese leaders besides attending the expo. Nepal has been participating in the Shanghai Expo and the Nepal pavilion has attracted a large number of visitors during the expo.

Prachanda`s forthcoming China visit is regarded here as politically significant as it is taking place at a crucial period when Nepal Parliament has failed to elect a new Prime
Minister even after 12 rounds of elections following the resignation of Premier Madhav Kumar Nepal four months ago.

The new election date is slated for October 26.

PTI

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