Chinese President Nixes Kathmandu Visit Amid Thaw in Indo-Nepalese Relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping has cancelled his trip to Nepal due to the country's Prime Minister’s pro-India approach and Nepal’s disinterest in fulfilling commitments to its northern neighbor.

In a major setback for Sino-Nepalese relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping has decided to cancel a planned trip to Nepal. Xi Jinping was expected to visit the communist-run Himalayan democracy in October after the BRICS Summit in Goa, India.

According to sources in the Nepalese government, China is unhappy with the present Nepalese government for three reasons. Firstly, the Maoist leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) has clearly indicated that it will not implement the agreements finalized during the previous government, led by Marxist-Leninist former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli. Prachanda has indicated that it will review all the agreements which were finalized during the previous administration, a move which as annoyed the Chinese leadership.

Another reason for the snub is the Prachanda government’s lack of enthusiasm towards China’s ambitious One Belt One Road project. The Chinese government had asked for assurances about Nepal’s commitment to the project during Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister K. B. Mahara’s visit to Beijing.

Thirdly, Prachanda’s decision to visit India ahead of Xi Jinping’s proposed visit to Nepal has annoyed the Chinese establishment. He will visit India in September for a three-day tour which is expected to mark the return of normalcy to India-Nepal relations.

In fact, ever since the fall of K. P. Sharma Oli’s government, China has been unhappy with the emerging situation in Nepal: the country's leadership is tilted towards India.

Prachanda’s government is supported by Nepalese Congress and the United Democratic Madhesi Front; both parties have cordial relations with the Indian government. Therefore, China is skeptical of the new government in Nepal.