A Chinese military delegation led by Major General Zhang Baoqun, deputy director of the Office for International Military Cooperation, is arriving in Kathmandu on Saturday on a four-day visit.

The Chinese delegation is arriving in Kathmandu via Sri Lanka, as part of its South Asia tour. In Male, the Zhang-led delegation reached a new security agreement with the Maldives in the context of the country’s deteriorating ties with India.

Sources in the security establishment told the Post that the Chinese military delegation will push for the procurement of an armoured personnel carrier (APC) from China, which has been stalled for a long time. Military procurement, the installation of an ammunition plant for the Nepal Army, the resumption of the joint military exercise, training for Nepal Army officials, and military-to-military cooperation are also on the agenda.

This is the first high-level military delegation arriving from China after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday formed a new Cabinet, forging a new alliance with another leading communist party, the CPN-UML, and some fringe parties, thereby ending the Maoist party’s year-long coalition with the Nepali Congress.

The military cooperation wing of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army explores and signs military-related agreements and cooperation with foreign nations.

Four other senior Chinese military officials—Pei Ling Song Lixing, Li Yingfend, Wang Guochnag and Xi Xiangyang—will accompany Major General Zhang. Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Krishna Prasad Bhandari confirmed the visit.

“I don’t think this delegation has a special agenda,” said Bhandari. “This is a routine exchange between Nepal and China.” The Chinese delegation will meet the Chief of Army Staff General Prabhu Ram Sharma, among other officials.

Earlier in August, Major General Yue Ande of China’s Tibetan Military Command (Tibet military region, Western Theatre Command) had visited Kathmandu and held talks with military leaders including General Sharma.