Chinese army chief arriving Wednesday

REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, March 23: Chief of China´s People´s Liberation Army (PLA) General Chen Bingde is arriving on a three-day official visit to Nepal on Wednesday upon the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Chhatraman Singh Gurung.

This is the first visit of Chinese army chief to Nepal since 2002.


Officials at the Defense Ministry told Republica that two agreements are going to be signed between Nepal and China during Bingde´s “goodwill visit”. As per the agreements, the Chinese government will extend engineering equipment assistance worth 30 million Renminbi (RMB). In addition, the Chinese side will also provide assistance worth 100 million RMB to the Nepal Army Hospital at Chhauni.

The 70-year old PLA chief is leading a 15-member delegation of army officials, including those specializing in Tibet´s security. The delegation is said to be one of the biggest since China grew interest in Nepal following protests in Kathmandu and Tibet in 2008.

Though the official agenda of the visit features singing of the agreement, defense ministry officials said the Chinese side, like in previous official visits, is likely to raise issues of Tibet security and voice Beijing´s concern over Tibetan refugees´ anti-China activities in Nepal.

“Though the Tibet issue is not in the official agenda, the delegation may raise the issue during bilateral talks,” said the official on condition of anonymity.

The Chinese army chief´s visit takes place a month after US Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero visited Nepal to voice concern for rights of Tibetan refugees living in Nepal.

Chinese military started extending assistance to Nepal during the tenure of former Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa who visited Beijing in September 2008.

During his visit in December 2008, Deputy Commander of PLA Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian had given US $2.6 million in non-lethal military aid to the Nepal Army (NA). In December 2009, a visiting Chinese military delegation had announced US $ 3 million to the NA.

During his visit, Bingde will meet President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, Defense Minister Bishnu Paudel, NA Chief Gurung and defense ministry officials.