Kathmandu July 21: A high-level political visit from northern neighbor China will take place within a week of US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asian Affairs Donald Lu’s visit to Nepal. Yuan Jiajun a Politburo member of the Communist Party of China (CPC), is set to visit for three days beginning on Sunday.

Yuan Jiajun will lead a delegation of the big and influential cities of China Chongqing to Kathmandu on Sunday. He is the Secretary of the CPC’s Chongqing Municipal Committee. The Provincial Secretary holds a vital position in the party’s leadership. Yuan is one of the 24 members of the CPC’s Central Politburo. The 20th Peoples Congress of the CPC in 2022 entrusted Yuan with the responsibility of the Politburo member.

After visiting Sri Lanka, the Chinese delegation will arrive in Nepal. Yuan will meet various party leaders, government officials, the President of the National Assembly, Ganesh Timilsina, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Devraj Ghimire. According to a foreign official, Yuan will also meet with some ministers and other leaders.

While Chinese leader Yuan remains in Nepal, Prime Minister Prachanda will attend the World Food Programme in Rome, Italy. Prime Minister Prachanda is scheduled to return to the country on the night of the 26th of July, the day after the Chinese leader returns to the country. The main opposition party leader and the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Uml) are visiting Cambodia. However, Oli’s flight back to Nepal is scheduled for the 24th. The Oli Office has confirmed a meeting between leaders Yuan and Oli.

During Yuan’s visit, there will be discussions about the implementation of projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other initiatives, as well as relations between the CPC and Nepali parties.

Previously, a group from the CPC’s Foreign Department visited Nepal from June 27 to 30. During the visit, Tu Yaling, director of the CPC’s Foreign Department, highlighted Nepal and China’s desire to collaborate on development.

Chinese officials have said that they have adopted a policy of prioritizing neighbors in their foreign policy.

Meanwhile next Sunday, leaders of the ruling party Maoist centre will travel to India for a week. Chakrapani Khanal, Rameshwar Rai Yadav, Satya Pahadi, and Suresh Rai are also part of the delegation headed to India by Vice chariramn Pampha Bhusal.

“We are going on the invitation of the BJP,” said Yadav, a member of the visiting team. “There is a program called ‘Know BJP’, and there are other meetings as well.”