Nepal

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today visited the route on which Chinese President Xi Jinpingcarcade will pass.

The government has cleaned and decorated the roads on the route. The Prime Minister set out for the drive since 6:30 am today.

He travelled on the route from Tribhuvan International Airport to Soaltee Mode. According to Prime MinisterPress Advisor Kundan Aryal, the Prime Minister is deeply concerned about Chinese President Xi Jinpingvisit agenda and preparations made towards that end, and in that connection took stock of the route fixed for the President Xitravel.

The Prime Minister also listened to the Chinese music to be presented by Nepali artists to welcome the Chinese President who is arriving here this afternoon on a two-day state visit at the friendly invitation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

• Chinese President Xi Jinping arriving in Nepal today for two-day state visit
• In Pictures: Preparations for Chinese Presidentvisit

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KATHMANDU: President of the PeopleRepublic of China, Xi Jinping, is arriving in Kathmandu today afternoon for his two-day state visit to Nepal.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Xi will land in Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at around 4:30 pm and will be welcomed by President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

A chain of government officials in their specific dress code will greet Chinese President Xi at Baneshwar-Mandala road section while a chain of sportspersons, coaches and other dignitaries will welcome him at Thapathali-Tahachal road section.

President Xi along with his delegation will stay in Soaltee Crowne Plaza located at Tahachal in the capital city during their two-day visit. Soaltee Crowne Plaza has been fully booked for two days.

Similarly, Xi will call on President Bidya Devi Bhandari at 6:30 pm today at Shital Niwas following which he is scheduled to meet with the president of the main opposition party (Nepali Congress), Sher Bahadur Deuba, at 7:15 pm.

President Bhandari will host a state banquet in honour of her Chinese counterpart and visiting dignitaries at Megha Malhar Hall inside Soaltee Crowne Plaza at 7:30 pm.The banquet marks the end of President Xiprogramme for today.

On Sunday, October 13, President Xi will hold a meeting with the co-chair of ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Pushpa Kamal Dahal, at 10:30 am. He will then hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Oli at around 11:15 am.

Different agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed after the talks. The visit is considered to be highly significant and historic to further harmonise Sino-Nepal relations.

More than 15,000 security personnel have been deployed to provide security to the Chinese head-of-state. Chinese security personnel are also set to provide security to their president during the visit.

The airport will remain closed from 2:55 pm to 5:25 pm on Saturday and from 11:20 am to 3:50 pm on Sunday.

Land routes that will be used by President Xi will remain closed for the public. The public will have to use alternate routes. It is likely that traffic will remain affected throughout on both days.

President Xi will leave for China at 1:00 pm on Sunday.

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KATHMANDU: The cabinet meeting held on October 10 has decided to give a public holiday on Sunday, October 13, for the second day of Chinese President Xi Jinpingstate visit to Nepal.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, government offices, public organisations and entities, educational institutions, and Nepali diplomatic bodies located outside the country will remain closed on the day.

President Xi Jinping is arriving in Kathmandu today afternoon for his two-day state visit to Nepal.

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KATHMANDU: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who was taken into police custody for investigation into attempt-to-rape charges levelled at him, has been admitted to Norvic International Hospital.

Spokesperson at Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hobindra Bogati told THT Online that the former speaker was admitted to the hospital on Thursday afternoon after he complained of chest pain. He said Mahara was a diabetic patient and had been suffering from fluctuating blood pressure and respiratory problems. The former speaker is currently in the hospital on observation and will remain there for some days, the DSP informed.

Mahara was taken into police custody after Kathmandu District Court granted permission to Nepal Police to arrest him based on a First Information Report (FIR) that was lodged against him following an allegation of rape.

The victim, who is a staffer at the Parliament Secretariat, had lodged the complaint against Mahara on October 4 citing an attempt to rape and acts of violence.

The permission from Kathmandu District Court provided a leeway for the police to remand Mahara into custody for further investigation.

• Parliament Sectt staffer accuses Mahara of rape
• Investigation against Mahara should go on, opine lawyers
• NHRC forms team to probe rape allegation

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