Prime Minister arrived in Beijing today at the friendly invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. During the visit, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Oli was bid farewell by Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakash Man Singh and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport.

Likewise, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, high-ranking officials of the Government of Nepal and the chiefs of security agencies also reached the airport to see off Prime Minister Oli.

Earlier, Prime Minister Oli was presented with a guard of honour by a unit of the Nepali Army.

During his stay in Beijing, Prime Minister Oli will call on Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He will discuss various issues of bilateral interest in his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li. Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji.

During the visit, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to address a programme organized at Peking University and the Nepal-China Business Forum jointly organized by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Nepal Federation of Commerce and Industry.

The Nepali delegation led by Prime Minister Oli includes his spouse Radhika Shakya, Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, Prime Minister’s Chief Adviser Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Prime Minister’s Economic and Development Adviser Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, MPs, high ranking government officials, private sector representatives and media persons.

Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to return home on December 5. (RSS)

Nepali Congress candidate Amin Tharu has won the post of ward chair of Thakurbaba Municipality-4 in Bardiya district by securing 1,043 votes. His nearest rival CPN (Maoist Centre) received 678 votes, according to the Office of the Chief Returning Officer.

CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Devka Lamichhane has been elected the Deputy Mayor of Nalgad Municipality of Jajarkot by securing 4,272 votes. Her arch-rival Indra Chand Singh of Nepali Congress received 3,147 votes. (RSS)

Rojina Shrestha of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSSP) has been elected ward chair of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16. Her arch-rival Laxmi Ratna Maharjan of CPN (UML) secured 2,220 votes in the by-election held on Sunday, according to the Election Office.

Nepali Congress candidate Ichha Kumar Maharjan has won the post of ward chair of Kirtipur Municipality-1 by securing 562 votes. His nearest rival, Harsh Maharjan of CPN (UML), scored 498 votes, according to the Election Office.

Kumari Sauden of CPN (UML) has been picked the chairperson of Sirijunga rural municipality-3 in Taplejung district by securing 353 votes. His nearest rival, Ambi Sauden of CPN (Maoist Centre) received 251 votes.

Likewise, Nepali Congress candidate Arjun Prasad Tiwari has been elected the ward chair of Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-12 by securing 2,063 votes. His nearest rival Rabin Kumar Pradhan of CPN (Maoist Centre) received 1,560 votes, according to Chief Returning Officer Awani Mainali Bhattarai.

CPN (UML)’s Sakibul Khan has been elected the ward chair of Ramgopalpur Municipality-2 in Mahottari district by securing 631 votes. His nearest rival Aiti Kumari Yadav of CPN (Maoist Centre) received 534 votes, informed Chief Returning Officer Rajkumar Koirala.

He had secured 655 votes in the by-election held on Sunday. His closest rival, Jiuti Devi Yadav of CPN (UML) got 631 votes while Subodh Kumar Yadav of Nepali Congress got 617 votes and Sandesh Prasad Yadav of JSP Nepal secured 258 votes, according to District Election Office Rautahat Chief Chhote Lal Das.

। Meanwhile, Nepali Congress candidate Sheikh Abdul Khalik won the post of ward chair of Ishnath Municipality-7 by securing 627 votes. His rival, UML’s candidate Sheikh Anwar received 575 votes, according to Election Office Chief Das.

CPN (UML)’s Janga Bahadur Shahi has been elected the chairperson of Mahabu Rural Municipality in Dailekh district by securing 3,127 votes.

His closest rival, Jhalak Bahadur Bhandari of Nepali Congress, obtained 2,675 votes, Chief Returning Officer Kul Prasad Pandey informed.

Nepali Congress candidate Tetar Sah has been elected the ward chair of Gadhi Rural Municipality-6 in Sunsari district by securing 816 votes. His nearest rival, CPN (UML)’s Santu Oraon, got 770 votes while CPN (Maoist Centre)’s Kusheshwar Kherwar got 695 votes, according to Chief Returning Officer Mukesh Upadhyaya.

Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal has won the post of ward chair of Dakneshwori Municipality-1 and 4 in Saptari. Dhirendra Kumar Sah has been elected the ward chair of Dakneshwori-1 and Devendra Prasad Yadav of Dakneshwori-1, according to Ramesh Kumar Joshi, chief of the District Election Office, Saptari.

Nepali Congress candidate Dhirendra Pujara has been elected the ward chair of Surma Rural Municipality-4 in Bajhang by securing 657 votes. His nearest rival CPN (UML)’s Lakhi Chandra Bohara secured 487 votes, the Election Office informed.

EC Spokesperson Nita Pokharel Aryal said that almost 62 percent of 226,799 voters cast their votes as per the report received so far.

The by-election was held for 41 posts including a mayor, two deputy mayors, two rural municipality chairs, four rural municipality deputy chairs and 33 ward chairs of the local levels.

The EC said that the by-election was completed peacefully in all the voting centres from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Meanwhile, the EC has issued directives to begin the counting of votes after the collection of the ballot boxes.

The Commission has also thanked the federal, province and local governments for the support, coordination and cooperation to successfully hold the election.

The RSS journalists from the respective districts reported that the voters were participating in the election enthusiastically.

Duhu rural municipality-5 of Darchula is electing a new chair, while ward no 5 of Gorkha is also voting for the same.

Ward no 1 of Musiko municipality of Gulmi is electing a new chair. Election officer Rishiram Ghimire informed that five percent voting was over there.

The voting is being conducted in a free and fair atmosphere at ward no 12 of Hetauda Sub-metropolis, Makwanpur. The voters are already in line to exercise their rights at the voting centres stationed at Pratibha Basic School and the Bishnu Jyoti Basic School. There are total 8,053 voters in the ward.

Twelve candidates- nine from various political parties and three independent- are in the fray.

Similarly, news reported from Rajbiraj stated that there are five voting centres for the election of chairs at ward no 1 and 4 of Dankeshwori municipality. The ballot is going on peacefully. There are eight candidates in fray at each local level.

The District Election Office informed that there are 2,635 voters at ward no 1 and 1,281 at ward no 4.

Moreover, two voting centres of Mahabu rural municipality of Dailekh district have witnessed voters in line since early morning. They are electing a new chair of the rural municipality.

A 92-year-old woman, Jagat Kumari Singh, exercised her right, reaching the nearby voting centre. There are seven contenders, while the number of voters stands at 12,614.

Reporter from Humla district wrote that voting for vice chairman of Sarkegad rural municipality was going on peacefully at various places in the rural municipality. The voters were already in line despite cold weather.

Moreover, Kirtipur municipality of Kathmandu district is conducting poll at 20 places to elect mayor and two ward chairs.

The voters are excited to exercise their rights.

Voting officer Indira Karki informed that there are 20 candidates vying for a mayor while nine for chair of ward no 1 and 12 for chair of ward no 4.

A total of 2,26,799 people are exercising their voting rights in the by-election being held for various 41 posts. The by-election is conducted for the posts of a mayor and a deputy mayor at the municipality; two chairs and four vice chairs of rural municipalities, and 33 ward chairs totaling 41 posts.

Any one of the official documents from among voter’s ID card, citizenship certificate, National ID card, passport, PAN or driving license can be produced to cast the vote.

A total of 376 candidates from various 20 political parties and independent ones are in the fray.

The EC has urged all concerned voting officers and employees to ensure free and fair atmosphere for voting. Similarly, cooperation from political parties, voters, media and observers has been sought for the successful conduct of the election.

The by-election is conducted for the posts of a mayor and a deputy mayor at the municipality; two chairs and four vice chairs of rural municipalities, and 33 ward chairs totaling 41 posts.

All preparation for the by-election was in place, according to Spokesperson of Election Commission, Nita Pokhrel Aryal.

The voters can exercise their right by visiting their voting centres where they are registered in the voters’ list.

Any one of the official documents from among voter’s ID card, citizenship certificate, National ID card, passport, PAN or driving license can be produced to tally the voter list and cast vote.

A total of 376 candidates from various 20 political parties and independent ones are in the fray.

The EC has urged all concerned voting officers and employees to ensure free and fair atmosphere for voting. Similarly, cooperation from political parties, voters, media and observers has been sought for the successful conduct of the election.

In his brief remarks after casting vote, he said all the voters should enthusiastically take part in the voting to make democracy stronger as election is the beautiful aspect of democracy.

By-election is being held at KMC Ward No 16 today as the post of the Ward Chair fell vacant with the death of Ward Chair Mukunda Rijal who was elected from the Nepali Congress. (RSS)

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is paying an official visit to China from December 2 to 5 at the cordial invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The PM will be accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya.

PM Oli is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. He is holding bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Qiang and exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

The PM will also hold a meeting with Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress in China, Zhao Leji.

Moreover, the Head of the Government is scheduled to address the Nepal-China Business Forum, which is being jointly hosted by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, the China Council for Promotion of International Trade and the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

Issuing a press statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that the entourage of PM Oli comprises Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, PM’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimal, PM’s Economic and Development Advisor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, members of parliament, high level government officials, representatives of private sector and media persons.

The PM and his delegation will return home on December 5. (RSS)

According to the Foreign Minister’s Secretariat, Minister Dr. Rana was briefed by Consul General Raut about the activities of the Consulate General.

On the occasion, Minister Rana had interacted with the staff members of the consulate and instructed to explore possibilities to promote Nepali tourism to further consolidate people to people connections.

Minister Rana further reminded the officials to be effortful to carry out the results in the backdrop of “Nepal Visit year 2025” jointly announced by both the governments on the occasion of 70th anniversary of formal bilateral relations next year.

She further instructed to identify ways to promote niche Nepali products like tea, coffee, medicinal and aromatic herbs in the Chinese market and to identity possible Nepali eateries in Chengdu. 

Nepali ambassador to China Dr Krishna Prasad Oli among other officials were present in the interaction programme.  Foreign Minister Dr. Rana is in China to make final arrangements for Prime Minister KP Oli’s upcoming visit.