Nepal, Sept. 8 -- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's recent China visit, where he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and an 'anti-Japan' parade, sparked some controversy. There were contradictory interpretations of his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit. Observers also questioned PM Oli's decision to attend the parade seemingly targeted against an old friend. The Post's Biken K Dawadi sat down with the general secretary of China Study Centre in Kathmandu, Upendra Gautam, an old China hand, for insights.

To start with, as someone who closely observes and interacts with Chinese leaders and bureaucrats, what are China's evolving interests in Nepal?

The Communist Party of ...