Chinese minister arriving Nepal today on a five-day visit

As Nepal is on the brink of the election, Chinese Vice Minister for Culture and Tourism Li Qun, who is also the head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, is arriving in Nepal on Friday on a five-day visit.

The Chinese delegation will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:30 PM.

Tourism Minister Jeevaram Shrestha is scheduled to welcome him at the airport. The Chinese delegation will then leave for Hotel Soaltee.

During his visit to Nepal, the Chinese minister will visit the nine-storey palace of Hanumandhoka in Basantapur. Similarly, he is scheduled to visit Pashupatinath Temple, Krishna Mandir in Patan, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The Prime Minister’s Office was against receiving foreign dignitaries ahead of the elections as most leaders are busy electioneering and as the government is a caretaker one. It had advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reschedule the visit, if possible. “But the Chinese side insisted on coming on schedule,” a senior official at the PMO said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had advised the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to postpone the visit until after the November 20 elections, but the Chinese side insisted that the trip would be purely “personal” and involve visits to cultural heritage sites, according to the officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Even though his visit has been said to “inspect the heritages/structures that have been rebuilt with the help of China after the earthquake,” observers have raised suspicion over his visit at this crucial hour labeling it “ill-timed”.

Former diplomats also said it is inappropriate to host foreigner leaders and diplomats ahead of elections.

With the election code of conduct in effect, the government cannot sign any agreement with foreign countries as such accords can potentially influence elections. Meetings with foreign diplomats have also been cut down significantly as such interactions could be interpreted as signs of foreign influence.

Officials said they are not aware of possible meetings between Li and Nepali leaders.