Pardafas Reporter
The cabinet meeting on Friday has decided to observe the days of mourning in Nepal for the death of Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain. The meeting decided to observe mourning for three days from the 10th to the 13th of September in memory of the Queen.
During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast in government offices and Nepalese missions abroad for three days.
National mourning means that no celebratory events and receptions will be held during that period.
But when the Nepal government is in mourning as a mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II, a high-level visit from China is about to take place in Nepal.
The chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, the Chinese Speaker, Li Zhanshu is arriving for a three-day official visit to Nepal on September 12.
Li's visit has been finalized a week before the government decides to mourn for the queen's demise.
On the day of his arrival in Nepal, Speaker Sapkota is scheduled to host a dinner in honor of Lee and his delegation.
Is it possible to welcome foreign guests by hoisting the flags of two countries when the country is in mourning and at half-mast? This question has also been raised.
On the one hand, the government decided for state mourning, and on the other hand, it is also hosting a state dinner in honor of Lee. Allegations have been made against the government saying both of the activities together is not acceptable.
It is also considered unnatural to mourn the death of a foreign head of state for three days.
However, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Arun Subedi said that the Chair of the Chinese People's Congress will be welcomed according to the predetermined program.
He said, "His visit is predetermined." Therefore, there is no need to postpone his visit. Grieving is a sudden event. The flag will also be flown at half-mast and he will also be welcomed.
Therefore, comments are also rising saying that the Chinese leader Li is going to be welcomed at half-mast. Allegations are also being made that the government is not attaching importance to the visit of the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China.
So the Governments move to not postpone Li's visit has been surrounded by controversy and doubt.
Li is visiting Nepal at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal, Agni Sapkota.
On July 14, Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota sent an official invitation to Li via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Li is a close ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Similarly, He is a No. 3 member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the top decision-making body of China, after President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang.
