Nepal Army Chief leaves for week-long China visit

Kathmandu: Nepalese Army Chief left for China on Sunday on a week-long official visit, hours after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli returned home after his maiden visit to the Communist nation.

"General Rajendra Bahadur Chhetri left today for China at the invitation of the Chief of army staff of the Peoples' Liberation Army of China, General Fang Fenghui," an army spokesperson said.

This is General Chhetri's first visit to China since assuming the top Army post in September.

He is accompanied by his spouse and six senior officials of Nepal Army.

He will inspect various Chinese army battalions and hold bilateral talks with his counterparts in China during the visit, according to Nepal Army headquarters sources.

"This is a regular visit as there is a tradition of paying visit to neighbouring countries by Nepal Army chief after assuming the top army post," the spokesperson said.

General Chhetri will return on March 2 after his visit.