Prime Minister Shah Meets Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming, Emphasizes Expansion of Nepal–China Cooperation

Dragon Media Correspondent

Prime Minister Balendra Shah held a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming on Monday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar.

The meeting focused on the traditionally friendly relations between Nepal and China, mutual interests, development partnership and the expansion of bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

Prime Minister Shah emphasized the need to further deepen the historic relationship between Nepal and China and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest. Ambassador Zhang extended best wishes for Shah’s successful tenure and reaffirmed China’s commitment to further strengthening relations and cooperation with Nepal.

The two sides also exchanged views on making Nepal–China relations more effective through practical cooperation and advancing development partnership. According to the information made public, no new agreement or specific project was announced during the meeting.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Shah also held a separate courtesy meeting with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava. Their discussions covered Nepal–India relations, friendship, mutual interests, development partnership and bilateral cooperation.

The meetings marked the beginning of separate formal engagements between Prime Minister Shah and major foreign diplomatic representatives in Kathmandu, roughly four months after he assumed office. He had previously held collective interactions with foreign ambassadors and heads of missions but had not prioritized separate bilateral meetings.

For that reason, Monday’s separate meetings with the ambassadors of India and China are being viewed as a significant change in the Prime Minister’s diplomatic engagement style.

Earlier, when a proposed visit to Nepal by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was postponed, uncertainty over securing a meeting with the Prime Minister had been discussed as one possible factor. However, there was no official confirmation that this was the sole reason for the postponement.

Prime Minister Shah is also scheduled to meet Scott Urbom, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, on Tuesday.

The meetings with the Indian and Chinese ambassadors, followed by the scheduled engagement with the U.S. diplomatic representative, indicate that the government is gradually intensifying direct diplomatic contacts with major international partners.

The meeting with Ambassador Zhang also comes shortly after Nepal and China marked 71 years of diplomatic relations, adding further significance to ongoing efforts to strengthen traditional friendship, development cooperation and future partnership between the two countries.