According to Nepal´s ambassador to China, Tanka Karki, during PM Nepal´s short visit he will hold discussions on Nepal´s peace process, the constitution writing process, the Tibetan issue and the South Asian political situation.
"Issues of regional and international concern will come up during the PM´s talks, but since China follows a policy of non-interference there is less possibility of discussions on Nepal´s internal affairs," Karki said.
It is believed that during the PM´s hour-long meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on December 29, agreement will be reached on financial and technical support from China. As per Karki, the Chinese government is looking at a US$200 million soft loan and at increasing the regular grant to Nepal from 100 to 150 million yuan per year. Likewise, China is also preparing to strengthen and better manage student exchange programs between the two countries. The issue of giving visas to Nepalis from Hong Kong will also figure during the talks, it is further stated.
The PM´s visit scheduled to start Saturday will first take him to Tibet, and will be a very busy one but also full of fun from a tourism perspective. PM Nepal will visit many monasteries, museums and other historic places in Lhasa, Xian, Beijing and Shanghai.
He will also meet high ranking officials of the Chinese Communist Party. Upon his arrival in Lhasa Saturday, he is set to meet the Tibet secretary of the communist party and the executive chief of Tibet. He will also visit Nepal´s Consulate Office.
After a visit to the historic Potala Palace and Jokhang temple on December 27, the PM´s delegation will leave for Xian, a place which has historical ties to Nepal as one of the most famous centers for Buddhists. On December 28 he will visit the famous Famin Buddhist monastery and the terracotta warrior museum there. He will then fly to Beijing.
Nepal will give an interview to state-run CCTV on December 29 after visiting the Great Wall, the White Pagoda Temple and Mao´s mausoleum at Tiananmen Square. The next day he is scheduled to address a function at Xinhua University and visit a Lama temple, besides meeting the president. He will leave for Shanghai the same day. He is to reach Hong Kong on December 31.
The prime minister is leaving Nepal for the six-day goodwill visit of China on Saturday. Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, Finance Minister Surendra Pandey and Energy Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat will accompany him.
Talking to myrepublica.com in Kathmandu, Nepal´s Foreign Affairs Advisor Rajan Bhattarai said Nepal and China will sign agreements on policy issues related to cooperation in infrastructure, hydropower, tourism and agriculture development.
He said Nepal has laid priority to road development along the northern border and will request Chinese assistance accordingly. "If we are asked to propose any specific projects related to infrastructure development, we will propose construction of the Baglung-Surkhet section of Pushpa Lal Lokmarga," he said.
Bhattarai said Nepal will also propose China for construction of fast track road linking Pokhara and Lumbini. Besides, Nepal will request China for help in upgrading the Pokhara Airport into a regional international airport.
Similarly, Nepal will seek Chinese assistance for the construction of Nousalghat hydropower project in Jajarkot.
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