KATHMANDU, Oct. 14 (Nepal Foreign Affairs)–Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will be holding a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of 8th BRICS Summit to be held in the Indian city of Goa from October 15 to 16, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said here on Friday.
The foreign minister said that the two leaders will discuss on ways to further expand friendly relations between Nepal and China during the meeting. Chinese President is scheduled to reach Goa on 15th of October after concluding an official visit to Bangladesh.
This will be the first meeting between the two leaders after Dahal became the prime minister of the Himalayan nation in August first week this year.
“Prime Minister Dahal will meet Chinese President in the evening of October 15 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. We are trying to hold separate meetings between the prime minister and leaders from BRICS member states,” the foreign minister told reporters in Kathmandu.
Stating that Nepal has given top priority to neighboring China in its foreign relations, the minister said that the government is sincere to implement the bilateral agreements reached with China in the past.
“We are expecting a high level visit from China in near future and the issue will be also taken up during the meeting with President Xi,” the minister further said.
In addition to the Chinese President, Prime Minister Dahal will also hold meetings with leaders from other BRICS member states in Goa, Foreign Minister Mahat informed.
Prime Minister Dahal will be leaving for India on Saturday morning to participate in the 8th BRICS Summit being held in the Indian city of Goa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release.
The prime minister will be joining the BIMSTEC Outreach Summit to be held in Goa on Oct 16 which will be preceded by a retreat meeting of the leaders of the BIMSTEC member states namely Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal, the ministry said.
Nepal is currently the chair of the regional grouping BIMSTEC and it is planning to host the fourth BIMSTEC Summit next year.
“The retreat of BIMSTEC leaders is likely to discuss matters pertaining to counter terrorism, addressing environment and climate change, disaster management, enhancing connectivity, promoting cooperation in agriculture, energy, trade, technology, tourism, poverty alleviation and people-to-people contact,” the ministry said.