Tang Jiaxuan

State Councilor of China, Tang Jiaxuan, left Kathmandu for Beijing Saturday morning after completing his three-day visit to Nepal.

Along with other members of the Chinese delegation, Tang left the Tribhuvan International Airport at 9:35 a. m. aboard a special chartered plane. Vice chairman of the Council of Ministers, Kirtinidhi Bista, Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey and other senior officials had reached the airport to see off the senior Chinese official.

Talking to reporters briefly prior to his departure, Tang said he was fully satisfied with his visit to Nepal. He did not elaborate.

State Councilor enjoys the status of deputy prime minister in the Chinese officialdom.

His Majesty King Gyanendra granted audience to Tang at the Narayanhiti royal palace on Friday. Tang also met senior opposition leaders in Kathmandu yesterday. Earlier, Chinese officials did not meet opposition leaders during their Nepal sojourn.

Addressing a function in Kathmandu on Friday, Tang stressed on the need for reconciliation between the ‘constitutional forces’ in Nepal. He urged them to settle the current political crisis through dialogues based on the maintenance of independence, sovereignty and national unification. “A Nepal of peace, reconciliation and amity, enjoying stability, development and prosperity serves the fundamental interests of its people and will promote regional peace, stability and development,” he added.

China termed the royal takeover of last year as an “internal matter” of Nepal and also provided a token military assistance of US dollar one million to Nepal last year. Chinese assistance to Nepal was criticized by India and the US—two major suppliers of arms and ammunition to the Himalayan kingdom.

China doesn’t recognize Maoist rebels on Nepal officially and refers to them as anti-government forces. Analysts say by emphasizing on reconciliation between the king and major political parties, China has been giving continuity to its policy of supporting initiatives aimed at peace and stability in the Himalayan kingdom.