5 January 2022, Kathmandu
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi has met Jhala Nath Khanal, coordinator of the task force formed by the ruling coalition and leader of the CPN (Unified-Socialist) to recommend the government about the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu confirmed the meeting between Khanal and Ambassador Yanqi.
During the meeting held at Khanal’s residence in Dallu, the Chinese Ambassador sought updates regarding the task force’s study on MCC, among other issues, sources have claimed.
The meeting between the coordinator of the task force Khanal and Yanqi has been meaningful at a time the government has entrusted the task force to “suggest” the government about the widely-discussed US grant agreement — Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
While Khanal is the coordinator of the three-member task force, other members include government spokesperson and Communications Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Maoist Center leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
The task force is entrusted with various responsibilities from convening parliament sessions to holding necessary consultations and discussions with parliamentary parties regarding the various issues, under consideration in the parliament.
It should be noted that Khanal was also the coordinator of the task force formed by the then Nepal Communist Party last year.
This is not the first time that the Chinese Ambassador has met with leaders of the communist parties.
Earlier too, Chinese Ambassador Yanqi held political meetings at the time when the debates surrounding MCC escalates.
