Kathmandu [Nepal], September 13 – Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel left for China on Sunday at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Nepal’s army said.
Sigdel will participate in the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum during his visit which will continue until September 17 according to the Directorate of Public Relations and Information of the Nepali Army.
During the visit, Sigdel is scheduled to attend the security forum and hold discussions on expanding military ties between Nepal and China.
The Nepali Army said the visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral military relations and contribute to Nepal’s foreign policy through military diplomacy.
Before his departure a contingent of the Nepali Army presented Sigdel with a guard of honour at Army Headquarters in Kathmandu. Lieutenant General Pradip Jung KC, Chief of Staff of the Nepali Army later bid farewell to him at Tribhuvan International Airport.
KC has assumed the duties of acting Army chief during Sigdel’s absence.
The Nepali Army described Sigdel’s China visit as an opportunity to strengthen Nepal-China military relations and make Nepal’s military diplomacy more effective.
The visit comes as Kathmandu seeks to maintain and expand defence cooperation with Beijing through high-level military exchanges and diplomatic engagement.
