Chinese Vice Minister for Culture and Tourism, Li Qun, has arrived in Kathmandu.
Vice Minister Li, who is also the head of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, arrived on Friday evening and will stay for five days in Nepal.
This is the first official visit from Beijing since President Xi Jinping was re-elected for the third term by the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October.
Li, is scheduled to visit earthquake-hit cultural heritage sites in Nepal which are being built with the financial assistance of China, according to Chinese media reports.
An official familiar with the matter said that Li is visiting Hanumandhoka Durbar Square and Nuwakot Durbar Square to inspect heritage sites.
The visit is taking place despite reservations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism.
Officials said that this is an 'ill-timed' visit as the country is gearing up for polls. "We communicated to the Chinese side to postpone the visit. However, they insisted coming on the schedule," they said.
The Chinese official will not have any official or political engagements here since leaders are busy taking part in election campaigns, officials said. "Li's visit is purely personal and will not carry any political significance," they said.
