Nepal benefits from China's prosperity
Yuba Nath Lamsal
Viewed from historic perspective, Nepal-China relations can be traced back to prehistoric and pre-civilization period. The legend says that the Kathmandu Valley was once a big lake full of water with no human settlement. A Chinese saint from upper Tibetan plateau, Manjushree, came to what is now called Nepal. Manjushree drained the water out of the lake by making an outlet in Chovar, south western part of the Valley, and also started human settlement. This settlement quickly grew and expanded far and wide to become a nation called Nepal. This is how contacts and cooperation between the people of Nepal and China began and grew.
Nepali civilization and Nepali nation germinated and grew with support from China. It can, thus, be said that China's contribution is so valued that Nepal's relations with China is incomparable to bilateral relations with any other country in the world. Right from the birth of Nepali civilization, the relations between these two Asian neighbours has been cordial, cooperative and friendly. China is an ancient civilization with the written history of more than 4000 years, perhaps older than any civilization in Asia. China is believed to be the oldest civilization in continuity for more than five millennia. The Chinese civilization stood as a leading civilization in the world for centuries—the period known as the world's first renaissance in the field of science and culture. China was a vibrant civilization when the rest of the world especially Europe and America was in primitive stage. In a way, China is the cradle of world civilization.
China at present is world's most populous nation with over 1.3 billion people and area-wise the fourth largest country after Russia, Canada, and the United States with total land area of 270,550 square kilometers. Already rich in art and culture with its glorious history, China has re-emerged as a global power. China is world's second largest economy, thanks to opening up and economic reforms initiated some 30 years ago by visionary leader Deng Xiao Ping. But China's modernization began right from the 1949 when People's Republic of China was established through a revolution. The Communist Party of China together with the People's Liberation Army under the leadership of Mao Zedong laid the foundation of modern China. Standing on the high raised podium in the Tiananmen Square amidst a cheering crowds of hundreds of thousands triumphant communist revolutionaries, Chairman Mao declared on October, 1949 the victory of Chinese revolution and said that modern China had stood up.
With its economic miracles, China has been able to portray its increased financial strength which is marked by significant improvement in the livelihood of its people. Dubbed as a 'leap from subsistence to moderate prosperity', China's ability to lift hundreds of millions people from abject poverty has been hailed by international community as a model for the developing countries in their campaign for poverty eradication and development. In a recent meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that China’s success in reducing poverty could serve as an example for many other countries in the world. But Premier Wen Jiabao made it clear that China, despite making significant stride in raising the living condition of the hundreds of million people, is still struggling hard to make poverty a history.
As Chinese economy roared back in leaps and bounds, the People's Republic of China has started playing a leading role in the international arena. Guided by its international obligation, China is portraying itself in the world as a global soft power. China is, thus, no longer an inward-looking country but an active player in the global affairs. China's economic growth has been accompanied by the expansion of its cultural and diplomatic influence throughout the world. The rise of China as a soft power and its enhanced role in the global affairs would definitely have a long-term positive role in reshaping the international order and balance of power.
However, Beijing's foreign policy, unlike some powerful countries, is not coercive but guided by mutual cooperation, trust and goodwill. China has always refrained itself from interfering in other's internal affairs but has tried to be partner in development. Despite being the world's second largest economy, China considers itself as the members of the developing countries. Its priority is, there, on strengthening and deepening relationship and cooperation with the developing countries. For decades, China has tried to be a genuine partner of the developing countries. Be it in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe or South Africa, China's focus was on mutual cooperation. Beijing's policy has been aptly reflected in the speech of Premier Wen in the address to the UN General Assembly last week. In his address to the UN General Assembly, Premier Wen made China's foreign policy in general and policy towards the developing countries in particular by saying, " We will intensify cooperation with fellow developing countries, and support their greater say in international affairs. We will remain forever a good partner and brother of developing countries.” This demonstrates how much importance China attaches to the relationship and mutual cooperation with the developing countries.
So far as Nepal-China relations are concerned, they are marked by goodwill, cooperation and mutual trust. China is almost 50 times larger than Nepal in terms of size and 93 times bigger in terms of population. As a northern neighbour China considers Nepal as an important partner in various fronts and has treated accordingly. China's interest in Nepal was not guided by security, strategic, political and economic standpoint but by goodwill and responsibility of being a close neighbour.
The relations between Nepal and China are age-old as old as Nepal's civilization. Nepal's civilization was established with the help of the Chinese, which symbolizes the Chinese interest and cooperation right from the prehistoric period, perhaps older than Nepal's relations with any other country in the world. The contact at the popular level continued although the relationship between the two countries at the official level started only in the fifth century. The first official relations and cooperation began during the rule of Lichhivi dynasty in Nepal. During the T'ang dynasty's rule in China, Lichhivi king Narendra Dev provided military assistance to the Chinese to fight against an Indian king. This was a historic event in Nepal-China relations and cooperation. Since this time, Chinese rulers always regarded Nepal as an important and valued neighbour whereas Nepal also treated the Chinese rulers with high respect. The contacts between the two countries at the official level were maintained by the exchanges of political missions. Different dynasties rose and fell in China and Nepal, too, saw rise and fall of different dynastic regimes. But the relations between Nepal and China have remained cordial and cooperative marked by mutual trust throughout the history.
Buddhism is the fundamental link between Nepal and China. When Nepali Princess, daughter of another Lichhivi king Amsuvarma, got married with a Tibetan ruler, Nepal-China relations entered into another phase. Bhrikuti not only became a strong thread for close and cooperative relations between the two countries but also introduced Buddhism in China, which spread so fast that later Buddhism was adopted as a national religion in China. Several Buddhist monks and scholars visited China where they provided significant input on Buddhist philosophical study and knowledge. Buddhism is, therefore, Nepal's important contribution to China.
Yet another cornerstone in Nepal-China relation was the contribution of Arniko or Balbahu, a Nepali artist. Arniko built some structure in pagoda architectural style and made it popular in China. Arniko's art highly impressed the Chinese emperor Kublai Khan.
Although contacts between Nepal and China in the official level saw some ups and downs in different interval of time with the change of regimes and dynasties both in Nepal and China, contacts in the people's level continued unchanged. During the Malla period in Nepal, the trade with Tibet was vibrant and Nepal was the main supplier of currency and other essentials to Tibetan part of China. For Nepal too, trade with Tibet was a profitable venture from which Nepalese economy benefited and prospered.
The unification of Nepal was a historic necessity of Nepal which also had a positive impact on Nepal-China relations. The unified Nepal accorded priority to relations with China with especial focus on trade with Tibet. In the later years, the trade and currency issues triggered wars between Nepal and Tibet which was resolved with Chinese intervention and mediation. However, slackness appeared in the bilateral relations between Nepal and China in the official following the rise of British colonial rule in India. After the Anglo-Nepal war, the Sugauli Treaty brought Nepal closer with British-India slowly keeping away from China. Nepali rulers did not want to annoy the British imperial power and adopted the policy of protecting their rule and also defending Nepal's territory with blessing from British. At the same time, the central authority in China had been weakened due to internal conflict, opium war and foreign intervention. As a result, relations with Nepal became low priority for China. This situation continued until 1949.
In 1949, People's Republic of China was established whereas Nepal also entered into a new era of democracy in 1951 through a popular revolution. The modern China shook off all its past hangovers of feudal period and entered into a new era in its foreign policy formulation. Nepal again became a priority country of China. Nepal's strategic location and long history of bilateral relations were some of the key factors that put Nepal as a priority country of Beijing's foreign policy. After the political change in 1951, Nepal also departed from Rana's isolationist policy in the conduct of foreign policy. The changed situation led Nepal and China to formally re-establish the diplomatic relationship in 1955.
Since then Nepal and China have been true friend and genuine neighbours that understand one another's sensitivity and act accordingly. China has been a true partner of Nepal's development and stability. China has not only been providing development assistance to Nepal but is also seriously concerned with Nepal's sovereignty and its stability. Beijing has been a counterbalance for Nepal as close relations with China has been helpful in protecting Nepal's sovereignty that often came under threat from southern neighbour. Had China not been there, Nepal's fate would have been like that of Sikkim long ago. For this, Nepalese must be thankful to China. The remarks made categorically by the chief of the Chinese high-level delegation headed by He Young, who visited Nepal recently, is an example of how Beijing attaches greater importance to Nepal. He Young had categorically said that China would never tolerate external interference in Nepal.
China is rising now as a global power and its economic might has made China more assertive in the international arena as well. Nepal is backyard of China and any events and development unfolding in Nepal definitely concern Beijing. Since China has a long common border with Nepal, instability in Nepal would have impact on its own security as well. Moreover, some elements instigated by some western powers and India often try to create disturbance in Tibet using Nepal's territory. Although Nepal has vowed not to allow its soil to be used against China, the anti-China activities have not been totally checked. This speaks of the double standard of some political parties and officials of Nepal. Nepal has
Nepal must understand China's sensitivity. If Nepal works closely with Beijing, it can benefit a lot for our economic transformation. Once backward and impoverished state, Tibet is now moving fast to prosperity and development. China has already connected Tibet with high-speed railway which has changed the face of Tibet and condition of Tibetan people. China is extending the rail-way to Shigatse in next four years and probably close to the border with Nepal later. These are the positive things, which can be used for Nepal in its development and also for the reduction of heavy dependence on the south. There are more areas of cooperation between these two neighbours which must be explored and implemented. The onus lies more on Nepal to extract benefit from China's prosperity.
Viewed from historic perspective, Nepal-China relations can be traced back to prehistoric and pre-civilization period. The legend says that the Kathmandu Valley was once a big lake full of water with no human settlement. A Chinese saint from upper Tibetan plateau, Manjushree, came to what is now called Nepal. Manjushree drained the water out of the lake by making an outlet in Chovar, south western part of the Valley, and also started human settlement. This settlement quickly grew and expanded far and wide to become a nation called Nepal. This is how contacts and cooperation between the people of Nepal and China began and grew.
Nepali civilization and Nepali nation germinated and grew with support from China. It can, thus, be said that China's contribution is so valued that Nepal's relations with China is incomparable to bilateral relations with any other country in the world. Right from the birth of Nepali civilization, the relations between these two Asian neighbours has been cordial, cooperative and friendly. China is an ancient civilization with the written history of more than 4000 years, perhaps older than any civilization in Asia. China is believed to be the oldest civilization in continuity for more than five millennia. The Chinese civilization stood as a leading civilization in the world for centuries—the period known as the world's first renaissance in the field of science and culture. China was a vibrant civilization when the rest of the world especially Europe and America was in primitive stage. In a way, China is the cradle of world civilization.
China at present is world's most populous nation with over 1.3 billion people and area-wise the fourth largest country after Russia, Canada, and the United States with total land area of 270,550 square kilometers. Already rich in art and culture with its glorious history, China has re-emerged as a global power. China is world's second largest economy, thanks to opening up and economic reforms initiated some 30 years ago by visionary leader Deng Xiao Ping. But China's modernization began right from the 1949 when People's Republic of China was established through a revolution. The Communist Party of China together with the People's Liberation Army under the leadership of Mao Zedong laid the foundation of modern China. Standing on the high raised podium in the Tiananmen Square amidst a cheering crowds of hundreds of thousands triumphant communist revolutionaries, Chairman Mao declared on October, 1949 the victory of Chinese revolution and said that modern China had stood up.
With its economic miracles, China has been able to portray its increased financial strength which is marked by significant improvement in the livelihood of its people. Dubbed as a 'leap from subsistence to moderate prosperity', China's ability to lift hundreds of millions people from abject poverty has been hailed by international community as a model for the developing countries in their campaign for poverty eradication and development. In a recent meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that China’s success in reducing poverty could serve as an example for many other countries in the world. But Premier Wen Jiabao made it clear that China, despite making significant stride in raising the living condition of the hundreds of million people, is still struggling hard to make poverty a history.
As Chinese economy roared back in leaps and bounds, the People's Republic of China has started playing a leading role in the international arena. Guided by its international obligation, China is portraying itself in the world as a global soft power. China is, thus, no longer an inward-looking country but an active player in the global affairs. China's economic growth has been accompanied by the expansion of its cultural and diplomatic influence throughout the world. The rise of China as a soft power and its enhanced role in the global affairs would definitely have a long-term positive role in reshaping the international order and balance of power.
However, Beijing's foreign policy, unlike some powerful countries, is not coercive but guided by mutual cooperation, trust and goodwill. China has always refrained itself from interfering in other's internal affairs but has tried to be partner in development. Despite being the world's second largest economy, China considers itself as the members of the developing countries. Its priority is, there, on strengthening and deepening relationship and cooperation with the developing countries. For decades, China has tried to be a genuine partner of the developing countries. Be it in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe or South Africa, China's focus was on mutual cooperation. Beijing's policy has been aptly reflected in the speech of Premier Wen in the address to the UN General Assembly last week. In his address to the UN General Assembly, Premier Wen made China's foreign policy in general and policy towards the developing countries in particular by saying, " We will intensify cooperation with fellow developing countries, and support their greater say in international affairs. We will remain forever a good partner and brother of developing countries.” This demonstrates how much importance China attaches to the relationship and mutual cooperation with the developing countries.
So far as Nepal-China relations are concerned, they are marked by goodwill, cooperation and mutual trust. China is almost 50 times larger than Nepal in terms of size and 93 times bigger in terms of population. As a northern neighbour China considers Nepal as an important partner in various fronts and has treated accordingly. China's interest in Nepal was not guided by security, strategic, political and economic standpoint but by goodwill and responsibility of being a close neighbour.
The relations between Nepal and China are age-old as old as Nepal's civilization. Nepal's civilization was established with the help of the Chinese, which symbolizes the Chinese interest and cooperation right from the prehistoric period, perhaps older than Nepal's relations with any other country in the world. The contact at the popular level continued although the relationship between the two countries at the official level started only in the fifth century. The first official relations and cooperation began during the rule of Lichhivi dynasty in Nepal. During the T'ang dynasty's rule in China, Lichhivi king Narendra Dev provided military assistance to the Chinese to fight against an Indian king. This was a historic event in Nepal-China relations and cooperation. Since this time, Chinese rulers always regarded Nepal as an important and valued neighbour whereas Nepal also treated the Chinese rulers with high respect. The contacts between the two countries at the official level were maintained by the exchanges of political missions. Different dynasties rose and fell in China and Nepal, too, saw rise and fall of different dynastic regimes. But the relations between Nepal and China have remained cordial and cooperative marked by mutual trust throughout the history.
Buddhism is the fundamental link between Nepal and China. When Nepali Princess, daughter of another Lichhivi king Amsuvarma, got married with a Tibetan ruler, Nepal-China relations entered into another phase. Bhrikuti not only became a strong thread for close and cooperative relations between the two countries but also introduced Buddhism in China, which spread so fast that later Buddhism was adopted as a national religion in China. Several Buddhist monks and scholars visited China where they provided significant input on Buddhist philosophical study and knowledge. Buddhism is, therefore, Nepal's important contribution to China.
Yet another cornerstone in Nepal-China relation was the contribution of Arniko or Balbahu, a Nepali artist. Arniko built some structure in pagoda architectural style and made it popular in China. Arniko's art highly impressed the Chinese emperor Kublai Khan.
Although contacts between Nepal and China in the official level saw some ups and downs in different interval of time with the change of regimes and dynasties both in Nepal and China, contacts in the people's level continued unchanged. During the Malla period in Nepal, the trade with Tibet was vibrant and Nepal was the main supplier of currency and other essentials to Tibetan part of China. For Nepal too, trade with Tibet was a profitable venture from which Nepalese economy benefited and prospered.
The unification of Nepal was a historic necessity of Nepal which also had a positive impact on Nepal-China relations. The unified Nepal accorded priority to relations with China with especial focus on trade with Tibet. In the later years, the trade and currency issues triggered wars between Nepal and Tibet which was resolved with Chinese intervention and mediation. However, slackness appeared in the bilateral relations between Nepal and China in the official following the rise of British colonial rule in India. After the Anglo-Nepal war, the Sugauli Treaty brought Nepal closer with British-India slowly keeping away from China. Nepali rulers did not want to annoy the British imperial power and adopted the policy of protecting their rule and also defending Nepal's territory with blessing from British. At the same time, the central authority in China had been weakened due to internal conflict, opium war and foreign intervention. As a result, relations with Nepal became low priority for China. This situation continued until 1949.
In 1949, People's Republic of China was established whereas Nepal also entered into a new era of democracy in 1951 through a popular revolution. The modern China shook off all its past hangovers of feudal period and entered into a new era in its foreign policy formulation. Nepal again became a priority country of China. Nepal's strategic location and long history of bilateral relations were some of the key factors that put Nepal as a priority country of Beijing's foreign policy. After the political change in 1951, Nepal also departed from Rana's isolationist policy in the conduct of foreign policy. The changed situation led Nepal and China to formally re-establish the diplomatic relationship in 1955.
Since then Nepal and China have been true friend and genuine neighbours that understand one another's sensitivity and act accordingly. China has been a true partner of Nepal's development and stability. China has not only been providing development assistance to Nepal but is also seriously concerned with Nepal's sovereignty and its stability. Beijing has been a counterbalance for Nepal as close relations with China has been helpful in protecting Nepal's sovereignty that often came under threat from southern neighbour. Had China not been there, Nepal's fate would have been like that of Sikkim long ago. For this, Nepalese must be thankful to China. The remarks made categorically by the chief of the Chinese high-level delegation headed by He Young, who visited Nepal recently, is an example of how Beijing attaches greater importance to Nepal. He Young had categorically said that China would never tolerate external interference in Nepal.
China is rising now as a global power and its economic might has made China more assertive in the international arena as well. Nepal is backyard of China and any events and development unfolding in Nepal definitely concern Beijing. Since China has a long common border with Nepal, instability in Nepal would have impact on its own security as well. Moreover, some elements instigated by some western powers and India often try to create disturbance in Tibet using Nepal's territory. Although Nepal has vowed not to allow its soil to be used against China, the anti-China activities have not been totally checked. This speaks of the double standard of some political parties and officials of Nepal. Nepal has
Nepal must understand China's sensitivity. If Nepal works closely with Beijing, it can benefit a lot for our economic transformation. Once backward and impoverished state, Tibet is now moving fast to prosperity and development. China has already connected Tibet with high-speed railway which has changed the face of Tibet and condition of Tibetan people. China is extending the rail-way to Shigatse in next four years and probably close to the border with Nepal later. These are the positive things, which can be used for Nepal in its development and also for the reduction of heavy dependence on the south. There are more areas of cooperation between these two neighbours which must be explored and implemented. The onus lies more on Nepal to extract benefit from China's prosperity.
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