The widely-expected meeting between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has so far not been scheduled during his China visit, which begins Saturday.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Friday ahead of his China visit, the prime minister gave details of his bilateral engagements during the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and its sidelines where he is meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among other leaders, from various countries.

But he didn’t mention the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi, about which people were particularly curious, in the wake of the recent India-China agreement on reopening a trade route through the Lipulekh pass.

The prime minister also failed to mention whether he would take up the ongoing controversy over Lipulekh during his China meetings.

Just two days ago, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, who is also the government spokesperson, had claimed that the prime minister would raise the recent India-China understanding on Lipulekh with Indian and Chinese leaders during his China visit.

After the India-China agreement on Lipulekh on August 18 in New Delhi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press statement on August 20 and reaffirmed that the official map of Nepal, as incorporated in the Constitution of Nepal, includes Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani—located east of the Mahakali river—as integral parts of Nepal.

On the same day, the External Affairs Ministry of India issued a statement asserting that border trade between India and China through Lipulekh pass had commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to the Covid pandemic and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it, it said.

The main objective of Oli’s China visit is to participate in the SCO Summit being held in the city of Tianjin, the prime minister told the House.

Established in 2001, SCO has now developed into one of the world's largest regional organisations. Its full member states include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, while Belarus and Afghanistan and Mongolia are observer states, said Oli. Along with Nepal, countries such as Turkey, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Maldives, Myanmar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates are dialogue partners of the SCO, he added.

“Nepal has been a dialogue partner of the organisation since 2016. Our goal is to enhance Nepal’s level of participation in the organisation, clearly present Nepal’s perspectives and priorities on contemporary regional and international matters, and promote Nepal’s national interests by gaining maximum benefit from the engagement,” said the prime minister.

Informing on his meetings with leaders attending the SCO summit, the prime minister said that he is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi, Chinese Vice-president Han Zheng and will attend separate state banquets hosted by the two.

On September 1, Oli and Nepali delegation will take part in the SCO Plus Summit to be held in Tianjin, where he is scheduled to deliver an address.

“During the SCO summit, I will have bilateral meetings with the heads of state and government of various friendly nations. These meetings will focus on bilateral relations and other priority matters between Nepal and those countries. After the summit in Tianjin, I am scheduled to return to Beijing on the same day,” said the prime minister.

According to Oli, so far, bilateral meetings have been confirmed with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính.

As the final event of the visit, on September 3, alongside other world leaders, the Nepali delegation will participate in the 80th anniversary event commemorating the victory of the Chinese armed resistance against Japan.

According to the Chinese government, more than 50 countries are expected to participate in these events, added Oli.

“I believe this visit will further strengthen the friendly bilateral relationship between Nepal and China, and that my participation in the SCO Summit will help project Nepal’s views and priorities on contemporary global issues, thereby enhancing the country’s image and prestige,” said Oli.

The prime minister’s delegation includes his spouse Radhika Shakya; former deputy prime minister and lawmaker Purna Bahadur Khadka; Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghujī Pant; Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey; former Minister and Economic and Development Advisor to the Prime Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada; and lawmaker Chhabilal Bishwakarma; along with senior government officials.