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.
International relations
China boosts ex-Nepal president Bhandari as she eyes political comeback
State-guest reception for veteran leftist hints at Beijing's Himalayan aims
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with then-Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari as he wraps up his two-day visit to Nepal, in Kathmandu on Oct. 13, 2019. © Reuters
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