Why is Chinese minister making an ill-timed visit to Nepal?

KATHMANDU: China’s Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, Li Qun is arriving in Nepal on Friday at a crucial time raising eyebrows when Nepal’s elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly are a stone’s throw away.

Even though his visit has been said to “inspect the heritages/structures that have been rebuilt with the help of China after the earthquake,” observers have raised suspicion over his visit at this crucial hour labeling it “ill-timed”.

Observers have to note that this visit, too, could be meant to meddle in Nepal’s internal affairs as the minister could have visited the country after the elections.

“This is not the right time to make such a visit,” a foreign ministry source said adding, “I don’t think that the government of Nepal invited him at this time.”

It may be noted that Chinese authorities and its ambassadors have time and again intervened in Nepal’s political affairs that are aimed at bringing Left forces together to make a Communist unity.

Confirming the visit, Bhimsen Rajbahak, personal secretary of Tourism Minister Jeevan Ram Shrestha, said that the Chinese minister will arrive in Kathmandu on Friday evening.

Sources, meanwhile, said that he is arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 10:30 pm by RA 402, on Friday.

Meanwhile, at 9:30 -12, he is scheduled to “inspect the World Cultural Heritage in Kathmandu Durbar Square.

In the afternoon, he is scheduled to visit the China Cultural Center at Maharajgunj.

Sources said that he will observe the projects built with Chinese investment in Kathmandu.

The visit of the Chinese minister on the eve of the election has been considered meaningful.

However, government authorities said that his visit was mainly aimed at inspecting the heritages built with Chinese support.

During his visit to Nepal, the Chinese Minister is scheduled to visit the 9-story palace of Hanumandhoka in Basantpur.

He will be welcomed by Tourism Minister Jeevan Ram Shrestha.

He is also scheduled to visit Krishna Temple in Patan.

The minister is scheduled to return on November 15.