China’s top legislator Li Zhanshu visits Nepal’s World heritage sites

BHAKTAPUR, Nepal

China’s top legislator Li Zhanshu, Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, who is on a four-day official visit to Nepal, visited historic World heritage sites in Bhaktapur Wednesday.

Li reached the Bhaktapur Durbar Square at 9:20 am where he was welcomed by a team of people’s representatives comprising the mayor and deputy mayor of Bhaktapur Municipality Sunil Prajapati and Rajani Joshi, federal lawmaker Prem Suwal, Bagmati Provincial Assembly member Surendra Raj Gosain, and Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur Rudra Devi Sharma.

On the occasion, Li and his delegation members viewed the historic Bhairab Pyakha dance organised in his honour at Durbar Square by the local government.

“The dance has reminded me of Chinese culture. The culture between China and Nepal is similar,” commented Li after the show.

He also observed the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pachpanna Jhyale Durbar (the 55 window palace), Swarnadwar and Sundhara. He keenly observed Pachpanna Jhyale Durbar.

The Chief of the tourism information centre at the municipality, Gautam Lasiwa, informed him about the heritages in Bhaktapur that were destroyed in the 2015 earthquake.

Eight per cent of the reconstruction of the heritages has been completed, he said.

On the occasion, Li showed his curiosity about whether or not foreign assistance was accepted for the reconstruction. For the reconstruction, no foreign assistance was accepted, but assistance and labour donations from the municipality, the Government of Nepal and local people were used, Lasiwa told.

After observing the newly reconstructed Silu Mahadev (Fasideg), he walked some distance and observed Nyatapola (a five-storey temple). On the occasion, he put his curiosity about the temple’s architect upon seeing the heritage not apparently damaged by the quake.

According to chief Lasiwa, the heritage and the adjoining Bhairav Temple were built with the use of traditional construction materials and according to the design of traditional architecture. So, it remained undamaged during the 2015 quake.

In Taumadhi, the local government organised a photo exhibition featuring local heritages, art, culture and dance.

On the occasion, the mayor briefed the special guest from China about the Bisket Jatra, the cultural festival of Bhaktapur, which is celebrated on the occasion of the Nepali New Year, and other cultural festivals of the district.

In response, Li said Nepal and China shared abundant similarities in culture and traditions.

During the period, he greeted the locals gathered to witness his arrival by uttering ‘Namaste’ (two hands held in front of the chest in a prayer position to show respect) in the Nepali language.

The Chinese delegation was gifted a replica of a wooden window (Mayur Jhyal) featuring a traditional Newari artwork and various publications of the municipality. COVID-19 health protocols were followed during the gift handover.

Chairperson Li also presented gifts to mayor Prajapati and Federal Parliament member Suwal among others.

The team wrapped up the visit after one hour and returned at 10:20 am.

Meanwhile, Li will be paying a courtesy meeting on President Bidya Devi Bhandari at 4:00 pm today.

On Monday, he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Likewise, he held a separate meeting with National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Monday itself.

He arrived here on Monday at the invitation of Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota.

Shortly, he and his delegates met and held a delegation-level talk with Speaker Sapkota at the Federal Parliament Building, New Baneshwor the same day. They also signed a letter of agreement in exchange for cooperation on the occasion. Li has led a 67-member delegation on the visit and will be flying back home tomorrow morning on a special flight, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal.