Overview
- Nepal’s foreign minister Shisir Khanal completed sequential visits to New Delhi and Beijing in mid-June to present the Rastriya Swatantra Party government’s new foreign policy and seek tangible cooperation from both neighbours.
- China’s leadership told Khanal it will deepen political trust and push for higher‑quality Belt and Road cooperation, highlighting project areas such as power, highways, ports and aviation.
- Kathmandu and New Delhi took practical steps during recent talks, including launching a direct payments link between India’s UPI system and Nepal’s NPI to speed cross‑border remittances.
- Longstanding gaps remain over how China‑backed infrastructure will be financed and delivered, with analysts and officials saying past BRI projects stalled largely because of unresolved financing disagreements.
- The government is also courting private investment and new connectivity options, holding an investment conference in Beijing and holding talks with Starlink and Huawei as it seeks jobs, exports and digital links for growth.