Zhou Yongkang, centre, secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Central Commission for Political and Legal Affairs, shakes hands ahead of a meeting with Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, third right, in Kathmandu yesterday

A high level, 60-member Chinese delegation arrived in Nepal yesterday and was due to hold three days of talks on the country’s peace process and constitution drafting.
The team, led by a special envoy of President Hu Jintao, Zhou Yongkang, includes ministers and high-ranking government officials and is the most important delegation to visit Nepal in the last eight years.
The visit came two days after Nepalese Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal resigned and a day after President Ram Baran Yadav gave the political parties one week to form a consensus government.
The Chinese team is to meet key political figures, including Yadav, Khanal - now acting as a caretaker prime minister - Deputy Premier and Home Minster Narayankaji Shrestha and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav.
The delegation called on leaders of the chief opposition groups, the Nepali Congress and the Maoists.
As well as the peace process and constitution, the Chinese delegation also expressed concern over anti-China activities being planned in Nepal.
An agreement between Nepal and China on economic and technical co-operation is also to be signed during the visit.
“China is trying to make its presence felt with this visit, as India already has a strong presence in Nepal,” said Tirtha Koirala, a political analyst.
Nepal’s large southern neighbour India has always exercised a strong political influence on Nepal. China has also stepped up its activities in Nepal recently, showing a greater concern in its political situation.