[ad_1]
According to the ReutersThis is China’s first diplomatic move in a neighboring country after Nepal’s prime minister dissolved parliament a week ago.
The visit of the Communist Party of China Deputy Central Director for Foreign Affairs, Guo Jingzhou, to Nepal is the visit of the highest-ranking foreign official since Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dissolved parliament and called for elections. Congress soon.
Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari accepted Prime Minister Oli’s request. Nepal is expected to hold general elections in late April next year, one year ahead of schedule (in November 2022).
The move created deep political instability and sparked a wave of street protests in Nepal amid the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, it also left the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) on the brink of division.
Deputy Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Central Communist Party of China, Guo Jingzhou. Photo: Reuters
The main leader of the opposition National Congress Party of Nepal, Narayan Khadka, said: “I think that (the official) China came to assess the general situation after the dissolution of the parliament of Nepal.”
The Chinese Embassy in Nepal did not comment when possible. Reuters Contact.
PNC member Bishnu Rijal said the Chinese official is expected to meet with Prime Minister Oli and his opponents. Earlier, Prime Minister Oli complained of an internal controversy and the lack of cooperation from his party caused decision-making to stall.
China has invested millions of dollars in Nepal in recent years in the form of aid and investment in infrastructure. Nepal was also included in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “Belt and Road” initiative, often referred to as the “New Silk Road”.
Political instability in Nepal comes amid intense tensions between China and India. According to the newspaper The New York TimesNepal maintains deep economic ties with India, but it is slowly getting worse.
Amid rising tensions between Nepal and India, China stepped in and injected money into Nepal. This strategy was promoted in 2017, when Prime Minister Oli’s group won the elections.
[ad_2]
