Chief of Army Staff of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), General Pyar Jung Thapa, left Kathmandu for Beijing Tuesday for a week-long visit of China.

During his visit, General Thapa will meet top brass of the People’s Liberation Army and Central Military Commission of China, the state-run Radio Nepal said.

Thapa is leading a six-member Nepali delegation.

The agenda of discussions between the Nepali and Chinese military officials have not been made public.

General Thapa is leaving for Beijing at a time when major arms supplier to Nepal, India, as well as US and UK continue their arms embargo following the February 1 royal takeover this year.

Nepal has been looking for alternate sources of arms and ammunition to fight the nine-year-old Maoist insurgency including from China, according to reports.

Nepali officials usually avoid commenting on such issues publicly.