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Journalism of Courage
In a development that has come as an embarrassment for the government of Nepal,China has called off a three-day visit by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to the country that was scheduled to begin from December 20.
Chinese ambassador Yang Houlan sought an appointment with Deputy Prime Minister Narayankaji Shrestha to hand over a letter cancelling the trip. However,Nepal is officially stating that the trip has only been postponed and not cancelled. Shrestha said,on Tuesday,the Chinese side gave no hint till yesterday of their intentions. Premier Wen Jiabao has also cancelled his proposed visit to Myanmar and it only proves that the trip has been cancelled not because of us,but because of the developments in China, Shrestha added.
The Nepal government has faced flak from China over the announcement of the timing of the trip without consultation with Chinese officials. Diplomatic etiquette calls for both sides to announce a trip simultaneously. Yes,the Chinese were not at all happy when Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai disclosed before the media the date of Wen Jiabaos trip much in advance without consulting the Chinese side, a senior official of the Foreign Ministry told The Indian Express. The cancellation was an outcome of the total immaturity and diplomatic misconduct at the highest level of the government, Rajeshwar Acharya,former ambassador to China,said. The cancellations is unfortunate, said Kirtinidhi Bista,former prime minister and a key architect of Nepal-China relations in the 60s.
