27 July 2006
Chinese minister travels to Nepal
During a three-day official visit to Nepal, Chinese vice-minister for foreign affairs, Wu Taiwei, announced that China will increase its aid to Nepal by 50 percent. Issues related to the Tibetan refugees were also discussed. Nepal’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, confirmed that the country "has given refugee status" to Tibetans who arrived before 1989, and "since then, whosoever has arrived in Nepal is considered an illegal immigrant". He clarified that this would not apply to "people in transit". However, the People’s Review in Kathmandu reports "a firm commitment" to China from Nepal not to issue travel documents to 5,000 Tibetans expecting to travel to the USA for permanent residence.