Chinese state councilor arriving next week

Chinese state councilor arriving next week

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KATHMANDU, JUN 20 -

State Councilor of China Yang Jiechi will be arriving here on June 25 on a two-day official visit, officials said on Wednesday. He will be the first high-level foreign dignitary to visit Nepal after the formation of the Interim Election Government under Khil Raj Regmi.

Yang was supposed to begin his visit on May 18 but it was postponed due to the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping abroad.

Yang is a well known Nepal hand in Beijing and looks after foreign policy matter as State Councilor. He had visited Nepal in 2008 in the capacity of Foreign Minister.

Officials said that Yang, who is leading a 20-member high-level delegation, will be holding talks with Foreign and Home Minister Madhav Ghimire and others during the visit. He is also scheduled to meet with Chairman of Interim Elections Government Khil Raj Regmi and top leaders of the major political parties.

Yang is likely to meet President Ram Baran Yadav if the latter returns from Japan within June 24 after his medical treatment, said a senior Foreign Ministry official.

A diplomatic source said Yang’s visit has two purposes. The first one is extending full Chinese cooperation to the ongoing political process and support to the election process. Second, he will seek more avenues here for Chinese investment and Nepal’s firm stand on one- China policy across the government as well as at various party levels.