PM Shah to break self-imposed rule with separate meetings with Indian, Chinese envoys

Prime Minister Balendra Shah is set to break his own rule and hold separate meetings with the Indian and Chinese ambassadors this week. This marks a departure from his previous practice of engaging with foreign envoys only in joint sessions. Aides and diplomatic sources confirmed the meetings are being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Shah, who took office on March 27, had initially refused individual meetings with Kathmandu-based ambassadors, opting instead for group sessions. This approach was lauded by Nepali diplomats and foreign policy experts as a more transparent and equitable way to handle diplomatic relations. The only exception to this rule was a meeting with the Asian Development Bank President.

Recently, Shah has increased his engagement with various domestic stakeholders, including business leaders and exporters. An aide to the prime minister stated that it is natural to begin engaging with foreign ambassadors, particularly those from Nepal's two largest neighbors, India and China. To emphasize their equal importance, Shah is scheduled to meet both Ambassador Naveen Srivastava of India and Ambassador Zhang Maoming of China on the same day.

In the past, newly elected prime ministers in Nepal would typically meet foreign ambassadors individually shortly after taking office. Shah's earlier refusal to meet even senior US diplomats, including Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Samir Paul Kapur and special envoy Sergio Gor, highlighted his initial stance on diplomatic engagement.

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The prime minister has started meeting various stakeholders over the past two weeks. We have now concluded that he should also engage with foreign ambassadors and diplomats. It is only natural to begin with the ambassadors of our two neighbours, India and China, given Nepal's foreign policy priorities.