Utpal Parashar, Hindustan Times
Kathmandu, September 11, 2010
Amid controversy over Nepal Maoists allegedly seeking Chinese help to bribe lawmakers in the deadlocked prime ministerial poll, a high level delegation from Nepal's northern neighbour landed in Kathmandu on Saturday. The 21-member delegation led by Chinese vice premier He Yong arrived for a five
day goodwill visit on the invitation of Nepal's three major political parties-Nepali Congress, UCPN (Maoists) and CPN-UML.
Yong, who is also Secretary at the secretariat of Communist Party of China's Central Committee, is the most senior Chinese leader to visit Nepal since premier Zhu Rongji's visit in 2001.
The visit comes days after leakage of two audio tapes where a senior Maoist leader was allegedly caught seeking NRs 500 million from a 'Chinese friend' to bribe MPs in favour of the party's chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the PM polls.
Both the leader and the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu have termed the tapes as baseless. The Nepal parliament will debate the issue on Monday and is likely to order a probe.
During the visit, the Chinese delegation would meet President Ram Baran Yadav, caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and leaders of the three prominent parties.
A foreign ministry official stated that the delegation would discuss the deadlocked prime ministerial election, delay in the peace process and drafting of a new constitution.
Soon after they landed, the delegation met the top brass of Maoists including Dahal at a five star hotel in the capital.
"They enquired about the peace process and constitution drafting and wanted both to be completed on time," Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara told journalists after the meeting.
Incidentally, Mahara who heads the Maoist party's foreign cell, was the one who allegedly made calls to his 'Chinese friend' seeking money to bribe lawmakers.
Nepal is in the process of electing its 34th prime minister after Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned in June to make way for a consensus government.
But despite seven rounds of voting, both Dahal and Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel have failed to secure the support of 300 lawmakers needed for a win.
day goodwill visit on the invitation of Nepal's three major political parties-Nepali Congress, UCPN (Maoists) and CPN-UML.
Yong, who is also Secretary at the secretariat of Communist Party of China's Central Committee, is the most senior Chinese leader to visit Nepal since premier Zhu Rongji's visit in 2001.
The visit comes days after leakage of two audio tapes where a senior Maoist leader was allegedly caught seeking NRs 500 million from a 'Chinese friend' to bribe MPs in favour of the party's chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the PM polls.
Both the leader and the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu have termed the tapes as baseless. The Nepal parliament will debate the issue on Monday and is likely to order a probe.
During the visit, the Chinese delegation would meet President Ram Baran Yadav, caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and leaders of the three prominent parties.
A foreign ministry official stated that the delegation would discuss the deadlocked prime ministerial election, delay in the peace process and drafting of a new constitution.
Soon after they landed, the delegation met the top brass of Maoists including Dahal at a five star hotel in the capital.
"They enquired about the peace process and constitution drafting and wanted both to be completed on time," Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara told journalists after the meeting.
Incidentally, Mahara who heads the Maoist party's foreign cell, was the one who allegedly made calls to his 'Chinese friend' seeking money to bribe lawmakers.
Nepal is in the process of electing its 34th prime minister after Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned in June to make way for a consensus government.
But despite seven rounds of voting, both Dahal and Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel have failed to secure the support of 300 lawmakers needed for a win.
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