Kathmandu, Oct. 21 -- Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari will leave for China on Thursday to attend the Global Governance Forum 2026, her first foreign visit since her recent nomination as a senior leader of the CPN-UML.

According to sources close to Bhandari, she is travelling at the invitation of the Chinese government to attend the forum in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province.

Scheduled for October 23-25, the forum is expected to feature an address by Bhandari as a distinguished guest.

Kailash Bhandari, a relative of the former president, will accompany her, said Rajkumar Rai, an aide to Bhandari.

According to the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, which is organising the event, the forum will bring together political, ...