Kathmandu, Sept. 12 -- Chief of Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel is embarking on a week-long visit to China on Sunday. Neither Nepal nor China has formally announced the visit. Sigdel is scheduled to return to Nepal on September 19.

The visit will be Sigdel's first to China since he assumed office as Nepal's army chief.

Sigdel is expected to attend the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which will be held from September 15 to 17 at the Beijing International Convention Centre. He is also expected to meet senior Chinese military officials during the visit, according to a Nepali Army official.

"General Sigdel will participate in the event and meet senior Chinese military officials," the official said.

The forum's organisers said senior def...