Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchadhar embarked on a six-day China trip on Sunday with a specific purpose. Gachchadhar and his team comprising senior security officials will try and persuade Chinese premier Wen Jiabao to visit Nepal at the
earliest.
Wen was to visit Nepal on a three-day bilateral trip starting December 20. But it was ‘postponed’ at short notice causing embarrassment to the Maoist-led coalition government here.
Official reason given for the postponement was Wen’s busy work schedule in Beijing, but speculations were rife in Kathmandu about other factors that could have led to the decision.
China’s unhappiness with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s announcement of the visit and concerns about demonstrations by Tibetan refugees based in Nepal during the trip were some.
Bhattarai had announced the dates without Beijing’s approval and there were worries about Nepal’s ability to put a lid on protests by the 20,000 plus Tibetan refugee.
Gachchadhar who faced flak for failing to make adequate preparations for Wen’s trip will meet Chinese minister for public security Meng Jianzhu to discuss “matters of mutual interest”. He is also expected to make a courtesy call on Wen.
“If the Chinese side is convinced of the security arrangement by the Nepali side, Chinese PM’s stalled visit would take place soon,” The Kathmandu Post reported on Sunday quoting official sources.
Gachchadhar is being accompanied by senior officials from Nepal Police, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and foreign and ministry officials.
In November, Home Minister Gachchadhar’s cabinet colleague Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha had visited Beijing and extended an official invitation to visit Nepal.