As Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan wrapped up his three-day Nepal visit on Saturday, chief of the Indian Army Gen Bipin Rawat is arriving in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Gen Chang’s visit came at a time when the Nepal Army is preparing to hold its first ever exercise with the Chinese army in Nepal. He announced a military aid of 200 million Yuan and logistical support to the NA for its peacekeeping operations and disaster management. 

The Chinese minister also reached a deal on imparting training to Nepali soldiers. Besides, China would support modernisation of the Nepal Police’s communication system.

The Chinese defence minister held high-level political meetings with President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, among others.

According to the NA, President Bhandari will confer the honorary title of Nepal Army chief on Gen Rawat on Wednesday. Armies of the two countries have the tradition of bestowing this honour on each other’s chiefs given their special relations.

Rawat will also be meeting Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is currently in China, and Defence Minister Bal Krishna Khand, among others. He will visit Pokhara, where India’s biggest pension paying camp is located, and will travel to Muktinath, where the NA runs high-altitude military warfare training.

Also on the agenda of his visit are issues related to military hardware procurement from India.