May 24, Kathmandu- Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari is leaving for Beijing from Guangzhou tonight for a week-long visit with a 14-member team.

The team, which is going at the invitation of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, includes Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari, UML Secretary and Head of the Foreign Department Raghubir Mahaseth, Standing Committee Member Karna Thapa, MP Devi Bhattachan, brother-in-law Dr. Kailash Bhandari, and former Chairman of the Federation of Nepal Journalists Mahendra Bista.

The former president is scheduled to meet with high-ranking leaders of the Chinese presidency. The former president wanted to take the party's deputy general secretary and communications minister as a senior minister on the visit, but the prime minister included Industry Minister Bhandari. The team also includes the head of the foreign department and party secretary Mahaseth.

Meanwhile, there is a situation of sarcasm in regional politics between Bajura's standing committee member Karna Thapa and Baitadi's central member Bhandari, who are also part of the team. After all, both of them are leaders promoted by former president Bhandari. While addressing the district convention last time, Thapa had accused Minister Bhandari of creating a mess.

It is understood that China has also scheduled them to address two separate programs. Damodar is addressing a program related to trade.