Rabi Lamichhane’s China Visit Postponed, New Date Yet to Be Fixed

Dragon Media Correspondent

The proposed visit of Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane to China has been postponed for the time being. The visit, which had already been rescheduled more than once, was being planned for the second week of September, but Lamichhane will no longer travel to China during that period.

According to government and party sources, the visit is expected to take place at another suitable time, although a new date has not yet been fixed. Coordination for the trip had been underway at the party level with the Communist Party of China, and high-level political meetings were also expected.

Instead of the delegation led by Lamichhane, a team of RSP lawmakers is now preparing to visit China. The detailed itinerary and full composition of the delegation have not yet been made public.

Lamichhane had visited India for five days in June. During the visit, made at the invitation of Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Nabin, he held meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and senior BJP leaders.

Following the India visit, the RSP had moved ahead with diplomatic and party-level contacts for Lamichhane’s proposed trip to China. The visit was initially planned for August before being pushed back to the second week of September. The latest decision has now postponed that schedule as well.

Meanwhile, RSP Vice-Chair and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle is also preparing to visit India soon. High-level meetings with the Indian side are expected during his trip.

The detailed reason for postponing Lamichhane’s China visit has not been officially disclosed. Party and government sources, however, have said the visit has not been cancelled and is expected to be rescheduled for a later date.