Story perspectives

Nepal FM Seeks Funding, Reviews Stalled Belt-Road Projects in Beijing

6/16/2026

Summary

Khanal Seeks Funding

Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal began a four-day Beijing visit on June 13, 2026.
He met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss stalled Belt and Road projects.
Sources said MoUs may be signed, China will review ten projects, and Khanal sought funding for power, highways and aviation at a Beijing conference.
Nepal imported $2.67 billion from China in 2025 and exported $17.3 million, a 130:1 trade gap versus a 5:1 gap with India.

Summary

Khanal Expands Ties

Minister Shisir Khanal met Liu Haixing, head of the Communist Party’s International Department, to expand party-to-party exchanges.
Khanal visited the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research and received a briefing on joint projects with Tribhuvan University.
Wang Yi hosted a dinner for Shisir Khanal, emphasizing personal rapport between the ministers.
Shisir Khanal and Liu Haixing pledged tighter coordination in regional forums and discussed agriculture, fertilizers, petroleum and natural gas exploration.

Summary

Khanal Deepens Ties

Shishir Khanal, Nepal’s foreign minister, said the Beijing trip advances his Rastriya Swatantra Party’s diplomatic agenda.
Khanal met Liu Haixing and posted that the discussion was “fruitful” for expanding party-to-party and people-to-people ties.
The four-day visit, invited by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, will conclude with Khanal’s departure on Asar 3 (June 16, 2026) and includes a separate Belt and Road Initiative briefing, the first dedicated BRI session since 2024.

Summary

Foreign Minister Visits

The Nepalese foreign minister will travel to Beijing from June 14-17 2025 to meet Chinese officials.
Dr Pramod Jaiswal said the trip aims to keep Beijing in confidence and urged Kathmandu to add a United States visit to its diplomatic agenda.
The itinerary follows a June 5-7 India visit, includes a reception with the Nepali diaspora in Beijing, and signals equal engagement with both neighbours.

History

Historical Context

In March 1960 Nepal’s premier B.P. Koirala signed a boundary and aid pact with China, creating embassies. After China rejoined GATT in 1987 and joined the WTO in 2001, it expanded FTAs, granting Nepal tariff-free status in 2024. The June 2026 Beijing visit by Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Wang Yi and Liu Haixing aims to launch new MoUs and revive stalled Belt-and-Road projects.

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Khanal Seeks Funding

Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal began a four-day Beijing visit on June 13, 2026.
He met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss stalled Belt and Road projects.
Sources said MoUs may be signed, China will review ten projects, and Khanal sought funding for power, highways and aviation at a Beijing conference.
Nepal imported $2.67 billion from China in 2025 and exported $17.3 million, a 130:1 trade gap versus a 5:1 gap with India.

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