KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday attended a reception hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan in Tianjin, where leaders from across Asia had gathered for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus Summit.
The event brought together heads of state and government from SCO member and partner countries. On the sidelines, Prime Minister Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi exchanged greetings, an interaction that drew attention given recent diplomatic sensitivities in the region.
PM Oli meets Chinese President Xi in Tianjin
“Delighted to meet Nepal PM Mr. KP Oli in Tianjin. India’s relations with Nepal are deep-rooted and very special,” Modi wrote in his social media after the meeting.
Oli responded, “It was a pleasure to meet Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji in Tianjin. Nepal greatly values its deep, multifaceted relations with India.”
Just a day earlier, Oli held a bilateral meeting with President Xi at the Tianjin Guest House. During the talks, he conveyed Nepal’s objection to the recent India–China agreement to reopen trade through Lipulekh, a territory Nepal claims under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. The two leaders also reviewed bilateral ties and agreed to expand cooperation in trade, connectivity, and other sectors.
Oli’s visit to China to participate in the SCO Plus Summit marks his second visit to the northern neighbour in less than a year, underscoring Nepal’s effort to deepen engagement with Beijing while managing its long-standing relationship with India. If things go as planned, Prime Minister Oli is expected to pay official visit to India within next few weeks.
The SCO Plus Summit, which officially opened in Tianjin on Sunday, is expected to deliberate on regional security, connectivity and economic cooperation. For Nepal, the gathering offers both an opportunity to project its concerns and a platform to maintain dialogue with its two immediate neighbors.
