Kathmandu: A high-level Chinese delegation led by the Deputy Minister of the Communist Party of China arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday to take stock of Nepal’s political situation. The delegation has come to Kathmandu following the dissolution of Parliament and the split of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). This information has been given in the media news.
‘My Republica’ newspaper quoted senior NCP leaders as saying that specific details of the tour’s agenda were not available, but a four-member team led by Deputy Minister Guo Yezhou of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Kathmandu will hold high level talks during the stay.
Citing a diplomatic source, it said that the purpose of the visit is to take stock of the political situation emerging after the dissolution of the House of Representatives of Nepal and the separation in the ruling Nepal Communist Party. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, known as a pro-Beijing supporter, recommended dissolution of the 275-member parliament as part of a sudden move last Sunday amid the ongoing tug of power with former Prime Minister Pushp Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
Acting on the prime minister’s recommendation, President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House the same day and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10, sparking protests from a large section of the NCP led by Prachanda, also a co-chair of the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are tight-lipped about Guo’s visit, the report said.
Earlier this week, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, had communicated about the visit of Guo to Kathmandu during her meetings with senior NCP leaders of both the Prachanda- and Oli-led factions. Vice Minister Guo is scheduled to hold meetings with the leaders of both the factions. Beijing appears to be concerned with Oli’s move to dissolve parliament and the political situation resulting from it.
Shortly after the dissolution of the House, the Chinese ambassador expedited her meetings with top political leadership in Nepal.
Hou has already held meetings with President Bhandari, senior NCP leaders Prachanda and Madhav Kumar Nepal, former House speakers Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Barsha Man Pun, among others.
China has intervened in Nepal’s internal affairs several times in the past.