Kathmandu, August 14 (HS): In a strategic diplomatic move, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will travel to China later this month before embarking on an official visit to India. The visit to China is set for August 31–September 1, where Oli will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, marking the first time Nepal’s top leadership will represent the nation at the high-profile regional forum.

The SCO Summit, bringing together influential leaders from China, Russia, India, and other member states, will also serve as a platform for Oli to hold bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both of whom will be in attendance. Though Nepal is a Dialogue Partner in the SCO and not a full member, its participation at the Prime Ministerial level signals an elevated diplomatic posture.

Oli’s China trip comes just weeks before his September 16–17 visit to India. To pave the way for these engagements, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will arrive in Kathmandu on August 17 to extend Modi’s formal invitation and discuss bilateral projects as well as regional cooperation.

This will be Oli’s second visit to China during his current tenure, following a five-day state visit last December. Analysts suggest the twin visits highlight Kathmandu’s balancing act between its two giant neighbors, leveraging multilateral platforms and bilateral channels to advance Nepal’s economic, strategic, and security interests.

With Beijing and New Delhi both vying for greater influence in South Asia, Oli’s back-to-back diplomatic missions are expected to shape Nepal’s role in the evolving regional geopolitical landscape.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar