President Bhandari leaving on state visit to China on April 24

KATHMANDU: At an invitation of Chinese President, Xi Jinping, President Bidya Devi Bhandari will leave for a state visit of China on April 24.

According to the itinerary made public by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Friday, President Bhandari is is scheduled to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held in Beijing and address the Forum.

The president will hold delegation level bilateral talks with her Chinese counterpart which will be followed by a signing ceremony. She will also meet with senior Chinese leaders, according to the Ministry. She will also attend the banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi.

President Bhandari will also visit Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province, on her way to Beijing. She will also visit Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region of China, on her way back home. In both places, she will meet with the provincial leaders.

The president will be accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Chief Minister of Province No. 3 Dor Mani Paudel, members of federal parliament, high-ranking government officials, ambassador of Nepal to China, representatives of the private sector and media persons.

She will return home on May 2.