Nepal’s leader holding meetings with Indian, Chinese envoys

Kathmandu, Nepal: Prime Minister Balendra Shah is set to hold individual meetings with envoys from China and India on Monday, marking his first one-on-one diplomatic interactions, according to his office. The 36-year-old, known as Balen, has largely avoided hosting foreign ambassadors individually since assuming power in March. Nepal, a landlocked Himalayan nation of 30 million people, must navigate a delicate diplomatic balance between its powerful neighbors, India and China.

Prior to his election, Shah expressed his desire to maintain "a natural relationship" with both nations. His office confirmed that he met with India's ambassador on Monday morning to discuss bilateral friendship, mutual interests, development partnership, and areas of cooperation. India is Nepal's largest trading partner, accounting for 63% of the country's imports valued at US$8.6 billion, followed by China at 13% with US$1.8 billion in annual imports.

The upcoming meeting with China's envoy comes after an international academic conference on Tibet was abruptly cancelled in the Nepali capital, despite organizers' attempts to hold the event. No official reason has been provided for the cancellation, and the Nepalese government has denied involvement, although the country is well aware of the sensitivity surrounding Tibet, a region China views as an integral part of its territory.