Kathmandu, Aug 24: Preparations for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s upcoming visits to China and India are moving ahead at full speed despite the ongoing Lipulekh dispute. Concerns had surfaced that the visits might be canceled after India and China reached an agreement over the Lipulekh region, which Nepal claims as its own territory. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that the trips remain a priority.
“The Prime Minister’s visits to China and India will not be postponed. Preparations are in full swing,” a foreign ministry source informed. “Disputes arise, and positions are presented, but relations should not be stalled because of them.”
Officials said high-level talks during the visits would provide a platform to raise sensitive issues, including the border dispute, and seek solutions to maintain friendly relations. “The very issues sparking debate now will be put on the table at the high-level meetings. The Nepal-India joint statement has already highlighted that disputes should be resolved through dialogue,” the source added.
PM Oli is preparing to attend the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, from September 1 to 2, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will also be present. On the sidelines, Oli is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with top leaders, including Modi and Xi.
Following his return from China, PM Oli is set to visit India from September 15 to 16. The foreign ministry is working on the program, emphasizing dialogue as the only way forward. “Issuing press releases and sending diplomatic notes alone cannot solve disputes. Both sides need to sit at the table, and the Prime Minister’s upcoming visits to both neighbors are a fitting opportunity,” the source said.
The ministry stressed that Nepal and India have both committed to resolving the Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura border issues through talks. On August 19, India and China agreed in New Delhi to reopen trade through Lipulekh Pass, which Nepal considers encroached territory.
The next day, Nepal’s foreign ministry issued a statement reaffirming that Nepal remains committed to settling the boundary dispute with India through diplomatic means based on historical treaties, agreements, facts, maps, and evidence. The ministry source added that the Prime Minister’s visits would advance this diplomatic process.
