PM Oli Meets President Xi

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Tianjin Guest House on Saturday, August 30, shortly after arriving in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.

Oli travelled to Tianjin earlier in the day at Xi’s invitation. He will address the SCO Plus Summit on September 1 and is slated to meet several world leaders on the sidelines of the gathering. His itinerary also includes talks with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing, followed by participation in commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia on September 3.

Leaders from more than two dozen nations — including Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia — are expected to attend China’s V-Day celebrations in Beijing. Xinhua reported that China will stage a large military parade to mark the “victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.”

Upon arrival in Tianjin, PM Oli was welcomed by Nepal’s Ambassador to China, Krishna Prasad Oli; China’s Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song; and senior Chinese foreign ministry officials.

Nepal has been a dialogue partner of the SCO since 2016. Founded in 2001, the regional grouping includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus as full members.

Oli is accompanied by First Lady Radhika Shakya; Education Minister Raghuji Pant; Tourism Minister Badri Prasad Pandey; lawmakers Purna Bahadur Khadka and Chhabilal Bishwakarma; Economic and Development Advisor Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada; and senior government officials.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to return home on September 3.

(With inputs from RSS)