Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal’s four-day official visit to China marked the first major diplomatic outreach to Beijing by Nepal’s new government, placing connectivity, investment and technology at the center of a renewed bilateral agenda.
Khanal visited China from June 14 to 17 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The visit came as Kathmandu sought to brief Beijing on the new government’s development priorities while reaffirming Nepal’s position on issues China regards as sensitive.
Khanal arrived in Beijing on June 14 and was received at Beijing Capital International Airport by Roshan Khanal, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Nepali Embassy, and Chinese foreign ministry officials. Later that day, he attended a welcome reception hosted by the Nepali Embassy and interacted with the Nepali community in China. He also received a briefing from embassy officials and instructed them to safeguard Nepal’s interests and provide efficient services to Nepali citizens.
The main diplomatic engagement took place on June 15, when Khanal held formal bilateral talks with Wang Yi. The two delegations discussed the full range of Nepal-China relations, including infrastructure, connectivity, border management, energy, trade, investment, agriculture, technology transfer, information technology, digitalization, tourism, chemical fertilizers, petroleum and natural gas exploration, and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides agreed to speed up implementation of previously agreed programs and projects. Nepal reaffirmed its commitment to the One China principle and said its territory would not be allowed to be used for activities against China. China, for its part, reiterated support for Nepal’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Connectivity remained the central theme of the visit. The two sides discussed roads, border ports, aviation links, cross-border electricity transmission and the proposed cross-border railway. Nepal’s aspiration to transform itself from a landlocked country into a land-linked economy again featured prominently in the talks.
The visit also brought Belt and Road cooperation back into focus. Both sides expressed commitment to practical and high-quality cooperation, with greater emphasis on implementation. The proposed cross-border railway received particular attention, as Nepal is expected to receive the feasibility study report by the end of June. Although the project remains technically complex and long-term, it continues to carry symbolic and strategic value in bilateral ties.
Khanal also met Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Liu said the CPC was willing to strengthen exchanges with Nepal’s Rastriya Swatantra Party, deepen political trust and promote cooperation through party channels. Khanal said Nepal appreciated China’s support for its development and was keen to expand cooperation in connectivity, hydropower, agriculture, technology innovation, culture and tourism.
Science and technology formed another important part of the visit. Khanal visited the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he was briefed on its cooperation with Nepali institutions, including Tribhuvan University. He stressed the importance of deeper cooperation in science, climate-related research and sustainable development.
Connectivity remained the central theme of the visit. The two sides discussed roads, border ports, aviation links, cross-border electricity transmission and the proposed cross-border railway. Nepal’s aspiration to transform itself from a landlocked country into a land-linked economy again featured prominently in the talks.
On June 16, Khanal met Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Wang said China was ready to maintain high-level exchanges, enhance political trust and deepen practical cooperation with Nepal. Khanal said Nepal-China friendship was based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and again reiterated Nepal’s commitment to the One China principle.
In a joint interview with People’s Daily Online and CCTV, Khanal said Nepal attached particular importance to transport infrastructure and cross-border connectivity. He also expressed interest in China’s progress in artificial intelligence, robotics and other frontier technologies, saying Nepal hoped to expand cooperation in these areas.
Economic diplomacy was another key component. Khanal attended an investment promotion event organized by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing, where the Investment Board Nepal presented investment opportunities in Nepal. Addressing Chinese investors, Khanal highlighted Nepal’s economic potential, demographic advantages and the government’s commitment to creating a more business-friendly environment.
On June 17, Khanal visited Zhongguancun Science Park, China’s first high-tech and national innovation demonstration zone. The visit exposed the Nepali delegation to China’s advances in information technology, artificial intelligence and robotics, reflecting Nepal’s interest in moving beyond traditional cooperation toward digital transformation and innovation-led growth.
The visit produced several outcomes. It reaffirmed political trust, put implementation of connectivity projects at the center of bilateral cooperation, opened new space for technology and digital cooperation, strengthened party-to-party exchanges and encouraged closer coordination in regional and multilateral forums.
Looking ahead, Nepal-China relations are likely to focus on whether the understandings reached in Beijing can be converted into visible projects. Connectivity will remain the main pillar, with railway, ports, roads, aviation and cross-border power transmission high on the agenda. Cooperation is also expected to expand in hydropower, agriculture, tourism, culture, health, education, rural development and small livelihood-oriented projects.
Khanal’s visit suggested that Nepal wants to pursue practical engagement with China while maintaining an independent foreign policy. For Kathmandu, the next phase of Nepal-China relations will be judged less by diplomatic statements and more by implementation, investment, technology cooperation and tangible benefits for the Nepali people.
(Mr Xie Zhibin is the Associate Professor of School of Country & Region Studies, Deputy Director of South Asia Research Center, Northwest University, China.)
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