Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who is on a nine-day visit to China, reached Beijing on Monday and started meetings with top leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Shrestha, who is also the vice chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), held talks with Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and discussed a wide range of issues, said the Nepali Embassy in Beijing.

Wang has been a member of the CPC’s Politburo Standing Committee, China’s top decision-making body since 2017 and its fourth-ranking member since 2022. He is also considered close to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the meeting, both Shrestha and Wang committed to bilateral relations and expressed plans to expand the economic relations without specific agendas, according to a Nepali participant present there.

“Both the leaders expressed happiness over the excellent state of relations between the two nations and expressed commitment to cooperate further for strengthening the bilateral relations,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Monday. “The discussion was focused on economic development and prosperity.”

Both the sides discussed how to pursue common prospects, strengthening the people-to-people relations, the participant added.

This is the first high-level meeting and exchange between Kathmandu and Beijing after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal changed his coalition partners, ditching Nepali Congress and joining hands with the CPN-UML and Rastriya Swatantra Party, among other fringe parties, earlier this month.

“The visit will provide the Chinese side with insights into the objectives of the new alliance mostly dominated by three communist parties, the longevity of the alliance, how the unity and cooperation between the communist parties will move on, and the commitment of the new government to implementing past agreements and accords between Nepal and China,” said a Nepali official who is the part of the delegation.

Noting that the leaders of China and Nepal reached important consensus on developing bilateral ties in their meeting last year, Wang called on the two sides to intensify political support, promote Belt and Road cooperation, and enhance people-to-people connectivity, China’s state-owned news agency Xinhua stated.

China is ready to work with Nepal to faithfully implement the important consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders, advance the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity, and push for an even closer community of shared future between China and Nepal, Wang said, according to Xinhua.

“The CPPCC is willing to make positive contributions to the above-mentioned endeavors,” Wang is quoted as saying.

Shrestha said Nepal firmly adheres to the one-China principle, adding that Nepal expects enhanced communication and cooperation with China in various fields for the benefit of the two peoples.

Later in the evening, over dinner, Shrestha met Sun Haiyan, deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and discussed the various aspects of Nepal-China relations.

Sun had visited Kathmandu in January end and alleged that some countries are trying to disrupt development cooperation between Nepal and China and defame bilateral relations.

“…Some criticise our relations. Some are trying to sabotage our bilateral relations and some have increased activity against China,” Sun said during a consultative conference in Kathmandu between Nepali political leaders and Communist Party of China. The conference was the first of its kind to happen in Kathmandu.

On Tuesday, DPM Shrestha will be meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discuss the status of various China funded projects in Nepal and possible economic cooperation between Nepal and China including some projects to be built under the Chinese economic and technical assistance.