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🇳🇵 Nepal /Elections & Politics

Nepal foreign minister to visit China after India trip, seeking diplomatic balance

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal will visit China following a trip to India to balance relations with the two neighbors.
  • The visit aims to reassure China that Nepal is committed to balanced diplomacy and dispel perceptions of leaning towards the West.
  • Khanal will discuss bilateral issues and the new government's priorities with Chinese counterparts, mirroring discussions held in India.

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal is embarking on a four-day visit to Beijing on June 14, seeking to maintain diplomatic equilibrium with China shortly after concluding a trip to India. This move is seen as an effort to balance relations with the two powerful neighbors.

The foreign minister has already begun preparations following the confirmation of the visit. In fact, he visited New Delhi on short notice only after his trip to China was confirmed.

— senior foreign ministry officialExplaining the timing and coordination of the foreign minister's visits to India and China.

The visit, at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also includes meetings with leaders of the Communist Party of China. A senior foreign ministry official noted that preparations are underway, emphasizing that Khanal's recent trip to New Delhi was arranged on short notice only after the China visit was confirmed. During his India visit, Khanal engaged in discussions on a range of bilateral issues, including border matters, trade, connectivity, energy, and fertilizers.

Diplomatic circles in Beijing have reportedly expressed suspicion that Nepal's current government is increasingly aligning with the West. The official stated that Khanal's trip to Beijing is intended to counter this perception and reaffirm Nepal's commitment to balanced diplomacy. This visit serves to demonstrate Nepal's impartial approach to its relationships with both India and China.

The foreign minister’s visit to Beijing is aimed at dispelling this perception and reassuring the Chinese leadership that Nepal remains committed to balanced diplomacy. It is also meant to demonstrate Nepal’s balanced approach to its relations with both India and China.

— senior foreign ministry officialDescribing the primary objectives of the foreign minister's trip to China.

Khanal plans to consult with former ministers, leaders, officials, and China experts before his departure. The visit follows earlier interactions where Chinese leaders inquired about the new government's foreign policy direction, particularly concerning a potential pro-Western stance. This prompted Nepal's ruling party to ensure the government reassures both neighbors of its adherence to established foreign policy principles. Khanal had previously assured the Chinese ambassador that Nepal's policy toward China would remain consistent under the new administration.

they did not carry the past baggage

— RSP leadersReferring to the approach taken by RSP leaders, including the foreign minister, during their recent India visit.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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