In a separate letter sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, Maoist Chairman Dahal has said that Lipulekh issue is closely associated with Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity and urged both neighbors to respect it."Our attention has been drawn to a provision in the recently concluded agreement between India and China on expanding trade and cooperation during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to China. We believe that the paragraph 28 of the Joint Statement between India and China incorporating Lipulekha runs against the provisions of the Treaty of Sugauli, 1816, between Nepal and India," said the letter sent through Indian and Chinese embassies in Kathmandu.
A Maoist delegation, led by the party's International Relations Department Chief Narayan Kaji Shrestha, submitted the letter of Chairman Dahal to the envoys. The delegation included party's senior leaders, including Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Barsha Man Pun, Lila Mani Pokharel and Prabhu Shah.
The Maoist has requested the government of India and China to take necessary diplomatic initiatives to address the genuine concerns of Nepalese people by making appropriate correction in the above mentioned agreement.
"This will be in consonance with India's continued commitment to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nepal and the feelings of the sovereign people of Nepal. It will also be in the interest of our two countries and people," reads the letter sent by Dahal.
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