Kathmandu: Nepali Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli is to pay an official visit to China on coming June 19, Tuesday, at the invitation of Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the of the People’s Republic of China.

Oli’s a five-day visit to China next week, the two sides announce on Wednesday, with projects under the Belt and Road Initiative expected to figure prominently on his agenda, an Indian outlet Hindustan times reports. During a visit to China in 2016, Oli had signed the landmark Transit and Transport Agreement that is expected to end India’s long standing monopoly on Nepal’s trade with third countries.

Officials said on Wednesday that apart from signing a protocol to the Transit and Transport Agreement, several other pacts and MoUs are expected to be signed during the upcoming trip. They include agreements on connectivity, bringing the Chinese railway network to Kathmandu, cross-border power transmission lines, tourism, opening more border points with China, use of the Tibetan highway, and construction of petroleum reservoirs.

According to the statement, Oli is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with his Chinese counterpart and meet President Xi Jinping. He will also meet senior Chinese leaders.

During the visit to the northern neighbour, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by his spouse, Mrs. Radhika Shakya.

The entourage of the Prime Minister includes Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun ‘Ananta’, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Rimal, Members of Parliament, high-ranking Government officials, representatives of private sector and media persons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold delegation level bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Li. He will also meet with senior Chinese leaders. He will address Nepal-China Business Forum and think tanks in Beijing. During the visit, the two countries will also sign some agreements and memorandum of understandings.

The Prime Minister will also visit Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region of China, where he will meet with the provincial leaders.

The Prime Minister and the delegation will return home on June 24, 2018.