Chinese help crucial for Nepal to meet internal and external challenges
Dr. Shashank Koirala, Nepali Congress Leader
Nepal-China relation is age old and strong and enduring, nurtured by mutual friendship, cultural exchanges from times immemorial and mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.
While diplomatic relations were established earlier, the founder leader of the Nepal Congress party, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal,
Mr. BP Koirala played a crucial role in taking Nepal’s relations with China to a new level. The strong bond of friendship that now subsists between our two countries is the result of the work of visionary leaders like BP who was one of the first, if not the first to see the need for a closer cooperation among the countries of South Asia and the importance of strong peaceful relations with a rising and prosperous China.
Nepal is a close witness to China’s phenomenal rise in modern times. In spite of dissimilar, asymmetric in terms of size and economy and with political systems, Nepalese see China as a friendly neighbor ready to assist whenever and however it can and a a big neighborhood power neighborhood power maintaining a hands off policy in the internal affairs of other countries. On its part Nepal pursues a firm One-China policy supporting China’s concerns and positions on Tibet, Taiwan and other issues of China’s core interests at the bilateral, regional and international levels. In this context, as we gather here to talk about Nepal-China relations in the 21 Century, I would like to begin by reiterating Nepal’s firm commitment not to allow any activities inside Nepalese territory which impinges upon China’s core interests.
The strengthening bond of our relations is-now reflected by Nepal-China trade which is expected to exceed US$ 2 billion in the near future. China has agreed to a list of over 8,000 products as Zero tariff items to increase Nepal’s exports to China and improve the balance of trade in favor of Nepal. There are over 20 Chinese enterprises investing over US $100 million in Nepal. During his visit in 2012 Premier Wen Jiabao announced 750 million Chinese Yuan in aid to next three years. China, also assisting Nepal in the expansion of the International airport at Pokhara, reconstruction and upgrading of the ring road in Kathmandu, construction of a dry port at the Tatopani border point in addition to several other projects of socio economic development including Upper Seti ( 900 MW) and Rasuwa-Syaphrubesi cross border road.
China announced Nepal as the Ninth country of its tourist destination in August 2000. As of today over 110, 000 Chinese tourists have visited Nepal and this number will soon grow many folds in the years to come. The number of Nepalese visitors to China also is growing, indicating a rapid increase in travel between the two countries. With several daily flights connecting Kathmandu with several Chinese cities, increased number of students studying in Chinese academic institutions and growing exchange of visits at both official and other levels the overall flow of people is bound to grow.
In the reports to the Party Congress of the CPC Chinese leaders have said “We will continue to promote friendship and partnership with our neighbors, consolidate friendly relations and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with them, and ensure that China’s development will bring more benefits to our neighbors.” China’s 12th Five-Year plan (2011-2015) has earmarked for imports worth $8 trillion and US $ 500 billion in foreign direct investment. Nepal also is the best link of China (with 1.3 billion people) with South Asia (with 1.5 billion).
China is also pursuing its ‘Develop West’ strategy, and South Asia represents one of the main overseas investment opportunities and potential for trade with Nepal as the best bridge between the two regions. The Silk route initiative of President Xi Jinping and the invitation to Nepal as one of the founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank are important milestones signifying the strengthening ties between our two countries. All these steps create many new opportunities for Nepal to benefit from China’s phenomenal rise. Translating these potentials into real opportunities will only be possible if Nepal can put its own house in order, ensure political stability by promulgating the democratic constitution on time and complete the peace process. We are working hard to ensure that we can fulfill the promise we made to the people. Once this political goal is achieved we hope to upgrade our own supply and absorption capacities as well as strengthen and deepen our relations on the basis of trust and confidence.
Tibet, the central cord linking China-Nepal relations, has many strings and knots that demand a much deeper and wider understanding to keep it intact. Growing global interest in the Himalayas, research on melting glaciers and high altitude health conditions and medicines to Tibetan culture, society and tourism are bound to spill over on both sides of the Himalayas.
With such developments China has now started considering its relations with Nepal closely linked to its own security.
Given the centrality of Tibet in Sino-Nepal relations how we manage the diverse demands of the various national and international actors, remaining steadfast to the One China Policy or how we respond to intensified Tibet related activities or further instability and external roles in Nepal are going to test the political and diplomatic skills of China’s new leaders and Nepal’s republican rulers in the days ahead.
In conclusion, Nepal-China friendship is long and strong. This relationship can gain new heights in the days to come through greater understanding at the intellectual and political level and increased cooperation in economic and others areas. While China may be willing and able to extend all possible cooperation, domestic politics represents the main foreign and security policy hurdle of current Nepal.
The problem is basically internal but in the current regional and global context continued understanding, goodwill and support of a powerful and friendly neighbor like China will be crucial in the struggle of the Nepalese people to come out of their current internal problems and external challenges. Most important of all openness on both sides for partnership as two close but independent neighbors will help further cement this already strong bond of friendship on the basis of trust and confidence for the mutual benefit of the peoples on both sides. To this end I want to assure our Chinese friends that Nepal Government, the Nepali Congress party and the people of Nepal will leave no stones unturned. Let me conclude by thanking China Study Centre for organizing this important event, congratulate it and the authors for their valuable contribution in the book just launched and wish you all success.
PS: Remarks made by Hon. Dr. Sashank Koirala on Nepal China Relations in the 21 Century organized by China Study Centre, Friday, November 21, 2014, Kathmandu Nepal: Ed.
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