Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal is leaving for China within a week of completing his three-day visit to India. At the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Minister Khanal is going to Beijing for a four-day (June 31-July 3) visit. Khanal's visit to China is being seen as an effort to maintain balanced relations with the two neighboring countries.

During the visit, Minister Khanal will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Wang and will also meet leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC). 'The Foreign Minister has already started the necessary preparations after the visit was confirmed,' said a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'In fact, he went to Delhi only after the visit to China was confirmed with a short preparation.'

While in Delhi, Minister Khanal met with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other high-ranking officials. They discussed bilateral issues including border, trade, commerce, connectivity, infrastructure, energy and supply of chemical fertilizers.

Foreign Minister Khanal is leaving for China amid Beijing's suspicions that the current government is leaning more towards the West, an official close to him said. "The purpose of the Foreign Minister's visit to Beijing is to dispel that suspicion and reassure the Chinese leadership that Nepal is committed to balanced diplomacy. It also means 

showing Nepal's balanced policy with both neighbors," the official added. Minister Khanal will seek suggestions from former ministers, leaders, high-ranking officials and China experts before leaving for Beijing. 

Some CPC leaders had come to Kathmandu after the February 21 election. They met with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) President Ravi Lamichhane and Khanal and discussed the new government's vision. During the visit, they also asked whether the new government would adopt a Western policy. 

Following the concerns and concerns of the Chinese side, the NCP leadership had come to the conclusion that the new government should assure both neighbors that it would not deviate from the permanent aspects of Nepal's foreign policy.

In a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming on March 25, Foreign Minister Khanal had assured that there would be no change in Nepal's policy towards China under the leadership of Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

The Foreign Minister will brief the Chinese leadership on the government's priorities and expectations from China in Nepal's changed political context. Party President Lamichhane and Minister Khanal, who stated during their recent visit to India that they would not "carry the burden of the past" in bilateral relations, are being watched with interest as to how that statement applies to China.

Nepal and China have previously signed agreements and understandings on projects including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network (THMDCN), and the expansion of the Kerung-Kathmandu railway.

After the Shah government was formed, on 26 Chaitra, Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Transport and Urban Development Sunil Lamsal and Ambassador Zhang signed an agreement to expand the 8.2-kilometer section of the ring road from Kalanki to Basundhara and construct a concrete bridge at Dhungedhara and three disabled-friendly pedestrian bridges at Sitapaila-Balaju, Balaju-Machhapokhari, and Samakhusi-Basundhara police stations. China will provide about 11 billion rupees in grant assistance for the project.

On 11 Jestha, the Nepalese government had also written to China regarding the construction of an inter-country transmission line. The letter expressed Nepal's commitment to the construction of the Chilime-Kerung transmission line. Similarly, on 20 Jestha, the government had decided to accept a grant of Rs 1.8 billion from the Chinese government for the reconstruction of the Araniko Highway. The government had also announced that it would give priority to the Kerung-Kathmandu railway line in its policies and programs.

Ahead of Foreign Minister Khanal's visit, the two sides reviewed projects being implemented with Chinese assistance. The recently concluded third meeting of the Nepal-China Cooperation Program and Project Implementation Facilitation Mechanism reviewed two and a half dozen projects being implemented in Nepal with Chinese assistance. High-ranking officials said that during Khanal's stay in China, discussions will be held on Nepal's infrastructure development, trade deficit reduction, connectivity, cross-border movement, tourism revival, and projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and related issues.