Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Nepal on October 12 and 13, marking the first visit by a Chinese leader in 23 years. Ahead of Xi's arrival, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi said the visit will have a major and long-term impact on bilateral relations and the region. China-Nepal relations are at one of their best times in history, Hou said, as the two countries have kept close cooperation and frequent official exchanges over the past years.