China Travel Forum

[Aynur]

Beijing: China’s senior State Councillor and former Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan would embark on a five day tour visiting Nepal and Sri Lanka from March 14, which Beijing hoped would further promote bilateral ties and benefit peace and stability in the region.

Tang, who oversees Chinese foreign policy matters, would be the senior-most leader to visit Kathmandu since King Gyanendra’s power seizure last year.

His scheduled three-day visit to Kathmandu from February 16 was earlier postponed without giving any reason, diplomatic sources said adding that it was intended to convey to the King that Beijing was concerned about the turmoil in the country.

“China and Nepal are friendly neighbours. We have maintained friendly cooperation in various fields,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

“We hope that, through the visit, our existing relations and cooperation will be further promoted between the two countries and benefit peace and stability in the region.” Tang would be visiting Kathmandu as guest of Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Nepal.

China has recently emerged as Nepal’s ‘all weather’ friend, refusing to condemn the palace coup saying it was an “internal affair” of the Himalayan Kingdom and supplying small arms to the Nepalese Army.

He would also visit Colombo at the invitation of the Sri Lankan government during the two-nation tour of South Asia, the spokesman said.