Take fresh steps for Chinese PM's visit: House panel to govt

KATHMANDU, Jan 10: Expressing serious concern over the postponement of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao´s visit to Nepal, the International Relations and Human Rights Committee of parliament on Sunday directed the government to take fresh initiatives for his Nepal visit.



The committee issued the directive to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following a discussion with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayankaji Shrestha, who told the committee that he was hopeful of an early finalization of the date of the Chinese prime minister´s visit through diplomatic channels. [break]



The committee had inquired Shrestha about the postponement of the visit by China in December.



In response, Shrestha said no formal date of the visit had been fixed though it was scheduled for December. In another decision, the committee directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hold diplomatic dialogues with Hong Kong to reopen it to Nepali migrant workers.



Hong Kong has stopped issuing such visas to Nepali workers since 2005. Likewise, the committee also directed the Ministry of Defense to take initiatives to return antique weapons sold by the Nepal Army to a US firm some 10 years ago.

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