President Ram Baran Yadav on Tuesday embarked on a landmark week-long visit to China amid a political deadlock in the country over the election of a new prime minister.
During his “goodwill” visit, Mr. Yadav is expected to hold talks with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on October 31 and take part in the concluding session of the Shanghai Expo-2010.
The visit, which is his first to China after assuming the post two years ago, aims to boost Nepal’s bilateral ties with its giant neighbour, which has stepped up pressure on Kathmandu to clamp down on the anti-Beijing protests by Tibetan refugees here.
Beijing has repeatedly asked Nepal to control the Tibetan refugees within its borders and stop the protests.
These protests have been a source of embarrassment to Nepal’s government, which wants strong ties with China.
Sandwiched between India and China, Nepal has upheld Beijing’s “One China” policy that views Tibet as an integral part of China. It has repeatedly assured Beijing that it will not allow its territory to be used against the communist nation.
In 2008, the president did not use the opportunity to visit China during Beijing Olympics due to political crisis at home.
Mr. Yadav is expected to attend various programmes during his visit to Lhasa, Xian of Shanxi province, Shanghai and Guandong, according to sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Nepal also hopes to boost tourism between the two nations as it is set to mark 2011 as ‘Nepal Tourism Year’
The Nepal President will visit sites of archaeological and historic importance, religious sites and modern agricultural farms in Xian prior to returning home on November 1.
The President is being accompanied by Tourism Minister Sharad Singh Bhandari and other senior government officials.
The visit comes at a time when the country has been in political limbo following the failure to elect a new prime minister.
Deadlock continues
Nepalese lawmakers on Tuesday failed to end the uncertainty over the formation of a new government as Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudyal, the sole candidate for the post of prime minister, was unable to garner a majority support for an unprecedented 13th time in a row.
It has stalled the country’s peace process and delayed the annual budget, bringing the nation on the brink of a financial crisis.
