UPDATE MAOIST CHIEF, CHINESE FUNCTIONARY MEET Kathmandu, 30 June: A visiting Chinese delegation headed by Chief of South Asian Affairs for International Department of the Communist Party of China, Ai Ping, called on Chairperson of Unified CPN (Maoist) on Saturday, RSS reports. Matters concerning Nepal's recent political development, peace process, constitution-making and building national consensus were discussed during the meeting held at Chairperson Dahal's residence, Lazimpat, said Chief of UCPN (Maoist)'s Department of Foreign Affairs, Krishna Bahadur Mahara. On the occasion, leader Ping enquired Chairperson Dahal about the reasons behind the dissolution of Constituent Assembly (CA). Responding the queries, Chairperson Dahal said the CA was dissolved in absence of consensus among the political parties on the issue of state restructuring. Consensus should be forged among the parties and his party has been effortful in this regard, Chairperson Dahal said. Forging consensus and collaboration is the best alternative to give outlet to the current political standoff and they have been making efforts for this as the largest party in the CA, Mhara quoted Chairperson Dahal as saying. Leader Ping also urged the Chairperson to forge political consensus at the earliest possible in a bid to cut through the current political crisis. Likewise, leader Ping also enquired about the split of the party. In reply, Chairperson Dahal said the breakaway faction headed by Mohan Baidhya and other leaders have splintered the party being based on worn-out thoughts and the party split would not affect the peace and constitution-making process anymore. He also briefed the Chinese delegation that they have been opting for party merger and the confidence to get success to that end was still there. Dahal further said the general convention was still to go in a bid to patch up problems surfaced within the party and the Chinese leader extended best wishes for the success of the event, informed Mahara, Standing Committee member of UCPN (Maoist). Leader Ping also expressed the best wishes that Nepal would steer ahead to the path of economic prosperity by attaining political stability and said the Chinese government was ready to assist Nepal to the possible extent to that end. Also present on the occasion were standing committee member duo Mahara and Leelamani Pokharel and the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal. During the meeting, Chairperson Dahal reiterated that Nepal always sticks to one China policy and is also committed to not allow Nepali territory to be used against neighboring countries. nnnn