Kathmandu: Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has embarked on a four-day official visit to China, marking his first trip to a neighboring country in his current term. The visit, scheduled from December 2-5, includes high-level discussions with Chinese leaders on matters of mutual interest.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nepal confirmed that Oli is visiting China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang. During his stay in Beijing, Oli will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and hold bilateral talks with Premier Li. Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening ties and exploring cooperation in various sectors.

Oli is leading a delegation of 39 members, and his spouse, Radhika Shakya, is also accompanying him on this important visit.

In addition to meeting President Xi and Premier Li, Oli will hold talks with Zhao Leji, the Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He is also set to deliver a keynote address at Peking University, highlighting Nepal’s perspectives on regional and global issues.

A leader often regarded as pro-China, Oli heads a coalition government that includes his Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and the Nepali Congress. His administration has emphasized balanced relations with both China and India.

This visit breaks with the traditional practice of Nepali prime ministers choosing India as their first destination after assuming office. The only other exception to this norm was in 2008 when former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, visited China before India.

Key discussions during Oli's visit are expected to include reviving projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Despite being an early signatory to the BRI in South Asia, Nepal has seen limited progress in implementing these projects since agreements were signed seven years ago.

The BRI is a major global connectivity initiative aimed at linking China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe through infrastructure and trade networks.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s ongoing visit to China focuses on revitalizing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects that Nepal and China signed in 2017. Kathmandu was one of the first South Asian nations to join the BRI.

Despite the early enthusiasm, no project under the BRI framework has been implemented so far, according to reports from Nepal. The initiative, a vast connectivity project, aims to link China with regions including Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe through infrastructure and trade corridors.

Both Nepal and China are reportedly preparing to sign a second framework agreement. This updated cooperation document is expected to prioritize securing Chinese grants to fund selected projects, according to local sources.

One of the key projects anticipated during Oli’s visit includes road infrastructure as part of the Koshi Corridor, designed to connect Nepal with Shigatse in Tibet. Discussions may also touch on the ambitious railway project aimed at linking the two nations through the Himalayan mountains. However, the railway project, estimated to cost over USD 3 billion, remains uncertain, given Nepal’s cautious approach toward taking loans from China.

Oli’s visit is being closely watched for developments that could significantly shape Nepal-China relations and the country’s role in the broader BRI framework.

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