Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, one of the point men in the Communist Party of China, is arriving on a four-day official visit to Nepal on August 14.

Wang, a vice premier, has also held some important positions in the CPC. The visit, timed close to the India trip of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, also demonstrates the willingness of the Chinese side to engage with the new government in Nepal.

At a time when Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara was supposed to visit China and a request was already made from the Nepali side, the visit of Wang ahead of Deuba’s India visit is meaningful, said officials.

Mahara will visit Beijing only after the PM returns from New Delhi.

Officials said details of the visit will be made public later. Following the signing of the framework agreement on the Belt and Road Initiative with China, the visit is focused on implementation of the understanding reached between Kathmandu and Beijing, expediting China-funded projects in Nepal and discussion on possible high-level visits from both sides.

Wang is a well known Nepal hand in the Chinese establishment. The Chinese official visited Nepal in March last year and has met with a number of top Nepali officials in China including the late Sushil Koirala, former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun.

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Chinese have requested meetings with Prime Minister Deuba, main opposition leader KP Sharma Oli and former PM Dahal, among others.