KATHMANDU — When Nepal’s former president Bidya Devi Bhandari boarded a plane to Beijing in late May, it wasn’t just a diplomatic trip. The nine-day visit, cloaked in ceremonial photos and vague agendas, signaled something more strategic: China’s bid to reinforce ties with a veteran leftist politician as she eyes a return to party politics.
Bhandari, a former vice chair of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), or CPN-UML, was one of four keynote speakers at the Dialogue with Political Parties from Neighboring Countries in Beijing. Organized by the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department (IDCPC), the high-profile forum drew 200 delegates from political parties, businesses and think tanks across 29 Asia-Pacific countries.
