Nepal, China trust and respect each other
By Yuba Nath Lamsal
Zheng Xianglin, Chinese Ambassador of Nepal, is a career diplomat, who has worked for many years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and Chinese missions in many countries. Born in Liaoning Province in June 1954, he joined Foreign Service of China in 1997 as a staff member at the Chinese Embassy in Japan. Prior to his appointment as the Ambassador to Nepal, he served as the Deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Affairs Management at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Ambassador Zheng believes that Nepal-China relations are excellent and free from problems. In an interview to The Rising Nepal, Ambassador Zheng said that China and Nepal always show mutual support and cooperation on issues of mutual concern. Excerpts:Q: How are the preparations for the Olympic Games going on?A: The Beijing Olympic Games will begin at 8 o'clock on the evening of August 8, 2008. All preparation works related to the Olympics have been nearly completed. Specifically speaking, 37 Olympic competition venues and 56 training venues are ready. The test of "Good Luck Beijing" Sport Events has proved that all venues are up to the standard of holding Olympic events. The Olympic Torch will arrive in Beijing just before the opening ceremony of the Olympics. In addition, the following works also have entered the final stage: security arrangement during the Olympics, volunteer recruitment and training, press service, event organization, and the accommodation, transportation and food arrangement for athletes and officials during the Olympics.Q: But some in the name of Tibetan people are protesting in Kathmandu and elsewhere aiming to disrupt the Olympic Games. What do you say about it?A: The Olympic Games is a sports event, which provides a platform for fair competition and communication of athletes all over the world. The Olympic Games should not be politicized, which is the understanding of the international community and people from all nations. However, in order to separate Tibet from the motherland, the Dalai clique linked the Olympic Games with politics, masterminded the serious criminal acts of violence involving beating, smashing, looting and burning in Lhasa on March 14, and rampantly instigated a series of political activities aimed at disturbing and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games in many countries including Nepal. I want to say that Dalai clique's intension to split China will get nowhere, and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will surely be successful.Q: Who do you think is behind these protests?A: Dalai Lama and the so-called "Tibetan Government-in-Exile" are behind the protests. Now, one leader dispatched by the "Tibetan Government-in-Exile" is in Kathmandu, holding secret meetings with the ringleaders of some organizations for "Tibet Independence" including "Tibetan Youth Congress", and plotting various anti-China political activities.Q: China has achieved tremendous economic progress. What is the secret of this success?A: This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. Earthshaking changes took place in China during the past 30 years. China's total GDP ranked No. 4 in the world in the year 2007, but the per capita GDP is still very low. On the whole, Chinese people have reached a well-off standard of living. The population living under the poverty line in China has been decreased from more than 250 million before the opening-up to about 20 million at present. Life expectancy has witnessed a large increase. Education, medical care, health, social security and other public understandings are developing fast and improving gradually.The successful experience in China's reform and opening up can be termed for short that China combines the promotion of reform and development with the maintenance of social stability, advancing reform and development in social stability and promoting social stability through reform and development. There are two famous sayings in China. One is development is the fundamental principle. Stemming from the basic national conditions, the Communist Party of China finds a socialism development road with Chinese characteristics, with the essence of focusing on economic growth and development. The other is maintaining stability is that is of top priority. As long as the society remains stable, different tasks can be completed, people can lead a happy life, foreign investment can flow into the domestic market, and the economy and the society can move forward. In the reform and opening up, China attaches great importance to combining developing social productivity with enhancing the cultural and ethical quality of the whole nation, improving efficiency with promoting social justice, and remaining independence and self-reliance with engaging in economic globalization.Q: On the international front, what role China is playing in creating just world order?A: China holds high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, adheres to the independent foreign policy of peace, and the road of peace and development. China firmly pursues a strategy of opening-up for mutual benefit and seeks to develop itself through striving for a peaceful international environment and to promote world peace through self-development. China will continue to promote world multi-polarization, advocate democracy in international relations and diversity in development models, and encourage the progress of economic globalization in a direction that benefits the common prosperity of all nations. China firmly opposes hegemony, power politics, and terrorism in all its manifestations and will work for a new international order that is fair and equitable. The Chinese Government and people are ready to join hands with people from the world to create a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.Q: Some western media and human rights activists say there have been massive human rights abuses in China in general and Tibet in particular. What is the ground reality?A: On April 9th, Mr. Jampa Pahtsok, the governor of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China said in a press conference held by the News Office of the State Council of China that the human rights situation in Tibet now is the best in the history of Tibet. Mr. Jampa highlighted the concrete benefits that Tibetan people enjoyed after the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet by sharing their own experiences. Since the Peaceful Liberation, with the support and assistance of the Central Government as well as peoples of all nationalities of China, the life of the Tibetan people has witnessed earthshaking and thorough changes. Tibetan people have become masters of their own fate compared with the serfdom period under the Dalai Lama. The living standard, the average lifespan and the literacy rate have increased and the Tibetan culture is soundly preserved and developed. The life expectancy for Tibetans 50 years ago was 35.5 years old, but it has now reached 67. There are more than 1000 schools of different kinds in Tibet, compared to no formal school fifty years ago. There are currently more than 1780 religious sites in Tibet with over 46000 monks and nuns. Religious freedom is fully respected.Q: The Communist Party is ruling in China. But the economic policies that China has adopted do not seem to be communist programmes, but they seem to be more capitalist. Is it not contradictory?A: China is implementing the Socialist Market Economy with Chinese Characteristics. Insisting on the basic socialist system, the Communist Party of China has developed a market economy under socialism so that the economic activities follow the requirements of Value Rule, to liberate and improve the social productivity to increase the comprehensive national strength and to improve the people's living standard. Mr. Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China's Reform and Opening-up policy said that, practice of a planned economy is not equivalent to socialism because there is planning under capitalism too while practice of a market economy is not equivalent to capitalism, because there are markets under socialism too. The truth has told that China has found a road of economic development unique to its national situation.Q: You have already adopted one China two systems after taking over Hong Kong and Macao from colonial powers. What is the policy towards Taiwan?A: Now major positive changes are taking place in Taiwan's situation, and cross-Strait relations show a good momentum for development. People on both sides and the international community are willing to see these changes. Under the new circumstances, the Chinese Government will continue pursuing the policy and principle of developing cross-Strait relations to realize China's peaceful reunification, adhering to one China principle, and firmly grasping the theme of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. The Chinese Government will continue opposing and controlling separatist activities for "Taiwan Independence", further enhancing the cross-Strait personnel exchange and economic and cultural cooperation and contribute to the realization of direct links for mail, trade and transport services between the mainland and Taiwan. We will also work for resuming talks with the Taiwan authority on the basis of "1992 Consensus" reached by Communist Party of China and Kuomingtang, solving different problems in a pragmatic way, seeking the well-being of our compatriots on both sides of the Straits and for peace in the Taiwan Straits region, and turning a new page for peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.Q: Do you see the unification of Taiwan with the mainland in the foreseeable future?A: The peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the common wish and concerns the common interest of Chinese compatriots across the Strait. It is also the common aspiration of all countries and people in the world, including Nepal, that love peace. We firmly believe that the unification of Taiwan with the mainland will come true someday.Q: Could you elaborate on Nepal-China relations?A: China and Nepal are good neighbors, friends and partners. The bilateral relations have maintained good momentum for development in various fields such as politics, economy, personnel exchanges and so on. Of course, compared with the close political relations, the economic cooperation and personnel exchanges are far from satisfactory. We hope both sides can make joint efforts to enhance, not only the economic and trade cooperation, but also the exchanges in the fields of education, culture, tourism and personnel exchange. The key for the fresh friendship and neighborliness between the two countries lies in that the two sides can always treat each other as equals and with sincerity, and trust and respect each other. China and Nepal always show mutual support and cooperation on issues of mutual concern.Q: What is the present state of Chinese assistance in Nepal?A: Since the establishment of China-Nepal diplomatic relations in 1955, the Chinese side has always been offering grant assistance to the Nepalese side without any political strings. The assistance from China is mainly used for infrastructure construction which relates to the life of the people such as roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and so on. Last year, the Chinese side provided the Nepalese side with 10 million RMB (Rs.95 million) worth of election materials as the support to the peace process. The construction of Banepa Polytechnic Institute and the Civil Servants Hospital assisted by China has been completed and two projects will be handed over to the Nepalese side soon. At present, some projects are underway including Shyfrubesi-Rasuwaghadi road, the office building of National Trust for Nature Conserve and so on. What more, the Chinese side is considering improving the Arniko Highway and building a dry port near Tatopani for the Nepalese side.Q: Nepal has undergone a big political change, what will be China's policy in the present changed context in Nepal?A: China's good-neighborly and friendly policy to Nepal is consistent. As a good neighbor and friend of Nepal, we sincerely hope that Nepal continues to move forward with the peace process and enjoy political stability and economic progress. The Chinese Government adheres to the principle of non-interference into the internal affairs of other countries, and respects the choice made by Nepalese people on its social system and development road in light of its own national conditions. We are ready to make joint efforts with Nepal to promote the bilateral friendly relations and cooperation.Nepal is expecting increased support from China for its reconstruction, and social and economic development. What would be China's response?The Nepalese society is waiting for rejuvenation and the reconstruction remains tough. China is willing to offer any kind of support and assistance within its capacity to help Nepal realize development and prosperity at the earliest.Q: What are the areas of cooperation that China would like to accord more priority in future?A: The two sides can discuss and study this issue. I think there is great potential for cooperation and development in some fields including economy and trade, development of water resources, tourism, agriculture and so on.Q: Would you please elaborate on Nepal-China trade and economic cooperation, and what do you think should be done to further promote the bilateral trade and cooperation in the future?A: In recent years, the bilateral trade and economic cooperation has been developing quickly. In 2007, the bilateral trade volume reached 401 million US dollars, registering a 50% increase than the year 2006. However, in comparison to the bilateral political relations, the trade and economic cooperation is very small. In the future, both sides can work on improving customs clearance conditions at Khasa (Zhangmu) port and discuss the possibility to open new border ports, so that bilateral trade cooperation will reach a new height. Meanwhile, the two sides can take measures to work out favorable policies to encourage and support mutual investment by private enterprises.Q: The CPN (Maoist) has emerged as the largest political force in Nepal. What will be the relationship of the Mao's China with the CPN (Maoist) in Nepal?A: China respects the choice of Nepalese people, and is willing to develop friendly relations with all political parties, including the CPN (Maoist).
Zheng Xianglin, Chinese Ambassador of Nepal, is a career diplomat, who has worked for many years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and Chinese missions in many countries. Born in Liaoning Province in June 1954, he joined Foreign Service of China in 1997 as a staff member at the Chinese Embassy in Japan. Prior to his appointment as the Ambassador to Nepal, he served as the Deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Affairs Management at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Ambassador Zheng believes that Nepal-China relations are excellent and free from problems. In an interview to The Rising Nepal, Ambassador Zheng said that China and Nepal always show mutual support and cooperation on issues of mutual concern. Excerpts:Q: How are the preparations for the Olympic Games going on?A: The Beijing Olympic Games will begin at 8 o'clock on the evening of August 8, 2008. All preparation works related to the Olympics have been nearly completed. Specifically speaking, 37 Olympic competition venues and 56 training venues are ready. The test of "Good Luck Beijing" Sport Events has proved that all venues are up to the standard of holding Olympic events. The Olympic Torch will arrive in Beijing just before the opening ceremony of the Olympics. In addition, the following works also have entered the final stage: security arrangement during the Olympics, volunteer recruitment and training, press service, event organization, and the accommodation, transportation and food arrangement for athletes and officials during the Olympics.Q: But some in the name of Tibetan people are protesting in Kathmandu and elsewhere aiming to disrupt the Olympic Games. What do you say about it?A: The Olympic Games is a sports event, which provides a platform for fair competition and communication of athletes all over the world. The Olympic Games should not be politicized, which is the understanding of the international community and people from all nations. However, in order to separate Tibet from the motherland, the Dalai clique linked the Olympic Games with politics, masterminded the serious criminal acts of violence involving beating, smashing, looting and burning in Lhasa on March 14, and rampantly instigated a series of political activities aimed at disturbing and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games in many countries including Nepal. I want to say that Dalai clique's intension to split China will get nowhere, and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will surely be successful.Q: Who do you think is behind these protests?A: Dalai Lama and the so-called "Tibetan Government-in-Exile" are behind the protests. Now, one leader dispatched by the "Tibetan Government-in-Exile" is in Kathmandu, holding secret meetings with the ringleaders of some organizations for "Tibet Independence" including "Tibetan Youth Congress", and plotting various anti-China political activities.Q: China has achieved tremendous economic progress. What is the secret of this success?A: This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. Earthshaking changes took place in China during the past 30 years. China's total GDP ranked No. 4 in the world in the year 2007, but the per capita GDP is still very low. On the whole, Chinese people have reached a well-off standard of living. The population living under the poverty line in China has been decreased from more than 250 million before the opening-up to about 20 million at present. Life expectancy has witnessed a large increase. Education, medical care, health, social security and other public understandings are developing fast and improving gradually.The successful experience in China's reform and opening up can be termed for short that China combines the promotion of reform and development with the maintenance of social stability, advancing reform and development in social stability and promoting social stability through reform and development. There are two famous sayings in China. One is development is the fundamental principle. Stemming from the basic national conditions, the Communist Party of China finds a socialism development road with Chinese characteristics, with the essence of focusing on economic growth and development. The other is maintaining stability is that is of top priority. As long as the society remains stable, different tasks can be completed, people can lead a happy life, foreign investment can flow into the domestic market, and the economy and the society can move forward. In the reform and opening up, China attaches great importance to combining developing social productivity with enhancing the cultural and ethical quality of the whole nation, improving efficiency with promoting social justice, and remaining independence and self-reliance with engaging in economic globalization.Q: On the international front, what role China is playing in creating just world order?A: China holds high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, adheres to the independent foreign policy of peace, and the road of peace and development. China firmly pursues a strategy of opening-up for mutual benefit and seeks to develop itself through striving for a peaceful international environment and to promote world peace through self-development. China will continue to promote world multi-polarization, advocate democracy in international relations and diversity in development models, and encourage the progress of economic globalization in a direction that benefits the common prosperity of all nations. China firmly opposes hegemony, power politics, and terrorism in all its manifestations and will work for a new international order that is fair and equitable. The Chinese Government and people are ready to join hands with people from the world to create a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.Q: Some western media and human rights activists say there have been massive human rights abuses in China in general and Tibet in particular. What is the ground reality?A: On April 9th, Mr. Jampa Pahtsok, the governor of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China said in a press conference held by the News Office of the State Council of China that the human rights situation in Tibet now is the best in the history of Tibet. Mr. Jampa highlighted the concrete benefits that Tibetan people enjoyed after the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet by sharing their own experiences. Since the Peaceful Liberation, with the support and assistance of the Central Government as well as peoples of all nationalities of China, the life of the Tibetan people has witnessed earthshaking and thorough changes. Tibetan people have become masters of their own fate compared with the serfdom period under the Dalai Lama. The living standard, the average lifespan and the literacy rate have increased and the Tibetan culture is soundly preserved and developed. The life expectancy for Tibetans 50 years ago was 35.5 years old, but it has now reached 67. There are more than 1000 schools of different kinds in Tibet, compared to no formal school fifty years ago. There are currently more than 1780 religious sites in Tibet with over 46000 monks and nuns. Religious freedom is fully respected.Q: The Communist Party is ruling in China. But the economic policies that China has adopted do not seem to be communist programmes, but they seem to be more capitalist. Is it not contradictory?A: China is implementing the Socialist Market Economy with Chinese Characteristics. Insisting on the basic socialist system, the Communist Party of China has developed a market economy under socialism so that the economic activities follow the requirements of Value Rule, to liberate and improve the social productivity to increase the comprehensive national strength and to improve the people's living standard. Mr. Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China's Reform and Opening-up policy said that, practice of a planned economy is not equivalent to socialism because there is planning under capitalism too while practice of a market economy is not equivalent to capitalism, because there are markets under socialism too. The truth has told that China has found a road of economic development unique to its national situation.Q: You have already adopted one China two systems after taking over Hong Kong and Macao from colonial powers. What is the policy towards Taiwan?A: Now major positive changes are taking place in Taiwan's situation, and cross-Strait relations show a good momentum for development. People on both sides and the international community are willing to see these changes. Under the new circumstances, the Chinese Government will continue pursuing the policy and principle of developing cross-Strait relations to realize China's peaceful reunification, adhering to one China principle, and firmly grasping the theme of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. The Chinese Government will continue opposing and controlling separatist activities for "Taiwan Independence", further enhancing the cross-Strait personnel exchange and economic and cultural cooperation and contribute to the realization of direct links for mail, trade and transport services between the mainland and Taiwan. We will also work for resuming talks with the Taiwan authority on the basis of "1992 Consensus" reached by Communist Party of China and Kuomingtang, solving different problems in a pragmatic way, seeking the well-being of our compatriots on both sides of the Straits and for peace in the Taiwan Straits region, and turning a new page for peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.Q: Do you see the unification of Taiwan with the mainland in the foreseeable future?A: The peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the common wish and concerns the common interest of Chinese compatriots across the Strait. It is also the common aspiration of all countries and people in the world, including Nepal, that love peace. We firmly believe that the unification of Taiwan with the mainland will come true someday.Q: Could you elaborate on Nepal-China relations?A: China and Nepal are good neighbors, friends and partners. The bilateral relations have maintained good momentum for development in various fields such as politics, economy, personnel exchanges and so on. Of course, compared with the close political relations, the economic cooperation and personnel exchanges are far from satisfactory. We hope both sides can make joint efforts to enhance, not only the economic and trade cooperation, but also the exchanges in the fields of education, culture, tourism and personnel exchange. The key for the fresh friendship and neighborliness between the two countries lies in that the two sides can always treat each other as equals and with sincerity, and trust and respect each other. China and Nepal always show mutual support and cooperation on issues of mutual concern.Q: What is the present state of Chinese assistance in Nepal?A: Since the establishment of China-Nepal diplomatic relations in 1955, the Chinese side has always been offering grant assistance to the Nepalese side without any political strings. The assistance from China is mainly used for infrastructure construction which relates to the life of the people such as roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and so on. Last year, the Chinese side provided the Nepalese side with 10 million RMB (Rs.95 million) worth of election materials as the support to the peace process. The construction of Banepa Polytechnic Institute and the Civil Servants Hospital assisted by China has been completed and two projects will be handed over to the Nepalese side soon. At present, some projects are underway including Shyfrubesi-Rasuwaghadi road, the office building of National Trust for Nature Conserve and so on. What more, the Chinese side is considering improving the Arniko Highway and building a dry port near Tatopani for the Nepalese side.Q: Nepal has undergone a big political change, what will be China's policy in the present changed context in Nepal?A: China's good-neighborly and friendly policy to Nepal is consistent. As a good neighbor and friend of Nepal, we sincerely hope that Nepal continues to move forward with the peace process and enjoy political stability and economic progress. The Chinese Government adheres to the principle of non-interference into the internal affairs of other countries, and respects the choice made by Nepalese people on its social system and development road in light of its own national conditions. We are ready to make joint efforts with Nepal to promote the bilateral friendly relations and cooperation.Nepal is expecting increased support from China for its reconstruction, and social and economic development. What would be China's response?The Nepalese society is waiting for rejuvenation and the reconstruction remains tough. China is willing to offer any kind of support and assistance within its capacity to help Nepal realize development and prosperity at the earliest.Q: What are the areas of cooperation that China would like to accord more priority in future?A: The two sides can discuss and study this issue. I think there is great potential for cooperation and development in some fields including economy and trade, development of water resources, tourism, agriculture and so on.Q: Would you please elaborate on Nepal-China trade and economic cooperation, and what do you think should be done to further promote the bilateral trade and cooperation in the future?A: In recent years, the bilateral trade and economic cooperation has been developing quickly. In 2007, the bilateral trade volume reached 401 million US dollars, registering a 50% increase than the year 2006. However, in comparison to the bilateral political relations, the trade and economic cooperation is very small. In the future, both sides can work on improving customs clearance conditions at Khasa (Zhangmu) port and discuss the possibility to open new border ports, so that bilateral trade cooperation will reach a new height. Meanwhile, the two sides can take measures to work out favorable policies to encourage and support mutual investment by private enterprises.Q: The CPN (Maoist) has emerged as the largest political force in Nepal. What will be the relationship of the Mao's China with the CPN (Maoist) in Nepal?A: China respects the choice of Nepalese people, and is willing to develop friendly relations with all political parties, including the CPN (Maoist).
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