Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya has said that the party’s upcoming visit to China will not involve any expenditure from Nepal’s state coffers.
Acharya said the Chinese side would cover all expenses for the 10-day visit, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Speaking to journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport, Acharya also said questions raised by RSP lawmakers about foreign visits should not be interpreted as opposition to such trips.
According to him, lawmakers have raised concerns about the purpose of foreign visits, whether public funds are being properly utilised and whether the right individuals are being included in delegations.
He said it was natural and necessary to question the objectives of official foreign visits and the benefits they are expected to deliver.
Acharya described it as a positive development that questions were being raised within the party about the justification of foreign visits, the use of public funds and the need to ensure accountability.
Clarifying the arrangements for the China visit, he said it was an entirely formal trip and that the Chinese side would manage all logistics, from the delegation’s departure from Nepal until its return.
“Rather than opposing foreign visits, my understanding is that lawmakers have raised questions about their justification, the proper use of public funds and the participation of appropriate individuals. It is natural and necessary to question the purpose of any visit and the expenses involved. As for our visit to China, it is a formal visit at the invitation of the Communist Party of China. The Chinese side will manage all logistics from our departure until our return, so there will be no expenditure from Nepal’s state coffers,” Acharya said.
During the visit, the RSP delegation is scheduled to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the ruling parties of the two countries, post-disaster management and opportunities for economic cooperation.
RSP lawmakers have previously raised questions about the purpose, costs and expected outcomes of various government and political visits abroad. Acharya said such concerns should be understood as efforts to make foreign visits more accountable and result-oriented rather than as opposition to them.
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