Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said on Sunday that his visit to Nepal is aimed at implementing bilateral agreements reached between the two countries.
According to Rastriya Samachar Samiti (National News Agency), Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa welcomed Wei at Tribhuvan International Airport.
“My visit is aimed at enhancing mutual military assistance and strengthening the existing ties between the two countries,” said Wei in a brief comment after his arrival, according to the news agency. "Ties between China and Nepal are strong and I am here to take this relationship to a new height."
It is expected that a protocol on implementing a 150 million RMB military assistance that Nepal and China have agreed upon will be signed during Wei's visit. The agreement was signed during Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel’s visit to China last year. Pokhrel was defence minister then.
“I am confident about having a result-oriented visit,” said Wei.
Wei’s is the highest level visit from the north since Chinese President Xi Jinping came to Nepal in October last year on a two-day visit.
During his daylong stay in Kathmandu, Wei will call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is also the defence minister.
Before wrapping up his visit, Wei will also pay a courtesy call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and will hold talks with Chief of the Nepal Army, General Purna Chandra Thapa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday while announcing the visit.
The high-level visit from the northern neighbour is taking place days after Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla concluded his two-day visit to Nepal.
Shringla returned on Friday afternoon.
The visit from the north is taking place at a time when the ruling Nepal Communist Party is mired in an internal conflict and Beijing has not concealed its concern over the goings-on in the party.
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