Nepal's veteran communist politician K.P. Sharma Oli, returning as the country's prime minister this year for a fourth time, sought to kick-start infrastructure projects with Beijing this week amid a pivot away from India's sphere of influence.

Oli's visit was his first to a foreign country since his July swearing-in, a break from the customary destination of New Delhi, with which Kathmandu has centuries-old ties

Nepal's veteran communist politician K.P. Sharma Oli, returning as prime minister this year for a fourth time, aims to persuade Beijing to give new momentum to planned infrastructure projects during a days-long visit to China.

Nepal's prime minister was in Beijing on Tuesday to meet Chinese leaders, seeking to expand infrastructure cooperation after breaking with the longstanding tradition of new leaders making their first official visit to neighbouring India.