Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae and Chinese Ambassador Wu Chuntai separately called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa on Monday to firm up the dates and agenda for Prime Minister KP Oli’s upcoming visits to India and China.

During the meeting between Rae and Thapa, both also discussed the ongoing negotiations between the government and Madhes-based parties. According to officials, both Thapa and Rae concluded that resolving the Tarai crisis through constitution amendment may expedite the preparations for Oli’s India visit. Prime Minister Oli, who is likely to visit India in the second week of February, has publicly said that his India visit “would not take place without assurances of trade normalisation between the two countries”.

During the meeting between Chinese Ambassador Wu and DPM Thapa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, they revisited Thapa’s visit to China in December last year and discussed Prime Minister Oli’s upcoming China visit.

On Sunday, Ambassador Wu had called on Prime Minister KP Oli in Baluwatar and discussed ongoing preparations on PM’s China visit, which is likely to take place in late March.

Prospects of a high-level visit to Nepal from China immediately after PM Oli’s visit was also discussed during the meeting “There is a possibility of a high-level visit from China in the middle of 2016 if we are able to restore political stability,” said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.

The Chinese side is also doing necessary preparations to sign several deals, including Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Act and Trade and Transit Treaty, Free Trade Agreement with Nepal during the exchange of high level visit.