KATHMANDU: Former President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari, is scheduled to visit northern neighbor China starting May 24, for a week-long trip.
The visit comes at the invitation of the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China. During the visit, she is expected to hold meetings with senior leaders of the Chinese Communist Party.
Bhandari is reportedly aiming to meet with top Chinese leadership, including Premier Li Qiang, Vice President Han Zheng, and President Xi Jinping. If a meeting with President Xi is not possible, she is prepared to hold discussions at the levels of Premier and Vice President.
Her trip comes at a time when questions are being raised about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s leadership in Nepal. After completing two terms as President, Bhandari has been signaling a return to active politics, particularly within the CPN-UML.
Since stepping down from the presidency, she has visited various provinces—including Gandaki, Koshi, and Lumbini—where she met hundreds of UML leaders and cadres. In those meetings and in public events, she has hinted at her political comeback.
Meanwhile, Nanda Bahadur Pun, who served as Vice President from the Maoist Centre, has already returned to active politics as the party’s vice-chairman. Bhandari’s China trip also comes at a time when she has been holding a series of political discussions in Nepal.
Bhandari previously had a long telephone conversation with President Xi Jinping on June 26, 2021, during the Covid pandemic.
Prior to the call, China had already sent 800,000 doses of vaccines to Nepal. After the conversation—which took place at the request of then Prime Minister Oli—China sent over 3 million vaccine doses as aid. The conversation was widely referred to as a form of “vaccine diplomacy.”
The political context in Nepal has changed since then. As of mid-July 2024, a coalition government has been formed between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. However, amid growing public dissatisfaction, Prime Minister Oli’s performance has come under scrutiny.
Within the UML itself, discussions on leadership change are slowly gaining momentum. Many UML politburo and senior leaders are frequently visiting Bhandari’s residence in Bhainsepati, signaling her growing influence.
PM Oli, meanwhile, has publicly claimed he will remain active for another 20–25 years, warning that imagining the UML without him is premature. For Bhandari to make a political comeback before the UML’s 11th General Convention, Oli would have to step aside. Otherwise, her return might come through challenging him directly during the party congress.
There is a belief among some communist leaders—such as those from CPN (Unified Socialist), CPN (Maoist Centre), Bamdev Gautam, and Dr. Bhim Rawal—that a unified communist front would be possible if Bhandari were to take the helm of UML. They argue that communist unity under Oli’s leadership is unlikely.
Some UML leaders and cadres speculate that China also wants Bhandari to lead the UML and unite all communist forces in Nepal under her leadership. However, realizing China’s ambition to counter Western influence through a unified communist front in Nepal is easier said than done.
Bhandari had earlier planned to visit China in May 2024, but the trip was cancelled when then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) was scheduled to attend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
At that time, Prachanda reportedly advised against Bhandari’s visit to China, warning it could send the wrong diplomatic message if she traveled while he was in India.
Having postponed that trip, Bhandari is now set to embark on her China visit this time.
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