KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced today that it stands ready to facilitate Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane’s upcoming visit to China upon formal request, while denying any prior knowledge of Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s chief advisor Kumar Ben’s recent trip to India.

Addressing a weekly press briefing in the capital, Ministry Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri clarified that while inter-party visits remain internal political matters, MoFA will extend full diplomatic coordination whenever official assistance is requested.

In the same briefing, Chhetri highlighted major global safety updates, revealing that 860 Nepalis lured into illegal online scam operations across Southeast Asia—733 from Cambodia, 113 from Myanmar, eight from Laos, and six from Thailand—have been rescued, while 49 remain jailed in Cambodia with legal aid underway.

Furthermore, addressing escalating conflicts in the West Asia that have impacted Nepal’s economy, MoFA urged diplomatic dialogue for a lasting peace, backed international efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and assured that Nepalis in the region remain safe and can access support via the ‘MoFA Mitra’ app.