Chinese delegation meets top NCP leaders amid crisis

Kathmandu, December 28

A high-level Chinese delegation led by a vice minister of the Communist Party of China met top Nepal Communist Party leaders on Monday and discussed the political situation in the country, amid an intensified effort by Beijing to patch up differences between Nepal's feuding leaders.

Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Guo Yezhou, who arrived here on Sunday in what is believed to be China's desperate attempt to avert a vertical split in the NCP, on Monday met Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who claims control over the ruling party after removing Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli from the posts of the party's parliamentary leader and chair.

Political instability

• Known for pro-Beijing leanings, PM KP Oli got the Parliament dissolved recently
• President has announ-ced fresh elections for April 30 and May 10
• China’s open meddling in Nepal’s political affairs has raised eyebrows

Contemporary politics, especially that has arisen after Oli's move to dissolve the House of Representatives, the possibility of bringing the two factions of the NCP together and Nepal-China cooperation figured during the talks, The Kathmandu Post reported, quoting Prachanda's secretariat.

Later, the Chinese delegation met former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who has replaced Oli as chairman of the Prachanda-led faction.

Monday's meetings came a day after the four-member team led by Guo held separate talks with President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Oli to patch up differences.

Oli, after his meeting with Guo at his official residence in Baluwatar, said Nepal and China have promoted and strengthened the bilateral relations to a new height in recent years.

“Nepal and China as well as the two Communist parties have been enjoying excellent bilateral relations for a long time,” he said.

Meanwhile, massive protests were organised in the capital demanding the reinstatement of the House. Guo is trying to patch up differences between the two warring factions of the ruling party - one led by Oli and the other led by Prachanda - during his four day stay in Nepal, the media reports said. — PTI

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