Key facts
- Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal met China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday.
- The visit occurred days after Khanal visited India.
- Wang Yi affirmed China's support for Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- China reiterated its commitment to infrastructure cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
- Analysts believe Nepal's relationship with India offers it leverage in dealings with China.
Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday, marking his first visit to the neighboring superpower since his party's election victory in March. This engagement follows a recent trip to India, Beijing's regional rival.
Analysts suggest that the change in government in Nepal, a country situated in China's "neighborhood diplomacy" sphere, presents a challenge for Chinese diplomats seeking to solidify regional ties. Wang Yi reiterated China's commitment to supporting Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also highlighting cooperation on infrastructure projects, including those under China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Experts like Eric Olander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project, noted that Beijing might have been surprised by the election outcome and dislikes changes that directly impact its interests. The relationship between Nepal and India, which has had long-standing border disputes, is seen by some as giving Nepal a degree of leverage over China, compelling Beijing to demonstrate its value.