Pro-China Nepalese PM on India visit
The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review wide-ranging cooperative partnership.
New Delhi: Even as China is staunchly backing the new Communist government in Nepal, Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli — widely seen as pro-China in his policies and approach — will make a three-day official visit to India from April 6. Notwithstanding the changing dynamics, New Delhi is trying to ensure that it retains its influence and relevance in the Nepalese polity.
In a statement, the MEA said, “At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rt. Hon’ble K.P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal, accompanied by his spouse Mrs. Radhika Shakya, will be paying a State Visit to India from April 6-8, 2018. A high-level delegation will accompany Prime Minister of Nepal.”
The MEA further said, “During the visit, Prime Minister of Nepal will call on Rashtrapatiji (President) and Vice President of India, and will hold talks with Prime Minister of India. EAM and other Ministers will call on the Prime Minister of Nepal. India and Nepal enjoy age-old, special ties of friendship and cooperation.
The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review wide-ranging cooperative partnership, and to progress it further for the benefit of the two peoples. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, the Prime Minister of Nepal will be visiting G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand.”
With China already undertaking massive economic assistance to Nepal, India, in its budget for 2018-19 unveiled about two months ago, had steeply hiked aid to Nepal to '650 crore for 2018-19, up from just Rs 375 crore in the revised estimates for 2017-18. Ms. Swaraj had also then during the visit met the victorious chairman of CPN-UML (and current prime minister) Mr Oli.
About two months ago, soon after the Nepalese general elections in which the pro-China Left party CPN-UML had secured landslide electoral victory, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had visited the Himalayan neighbour to “convey to all political leaders of Nepal that the government of India is looking forward to working with the democratically elected government to take forward bilateral ties to newer heights for mutual benefit, and to support the government of Nepal, as per its priorities, in its endeavours for rapid economic growth and development”.