Chinese Premier's Nepal visit will have far-reaching impact in South Asia

Yuba Nath Lamsal

The announcement that came from the mouth of non other than Nepal's Prime
Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is arriving at
Kathmandu next month on a three-day official visit beginning December 20 has
stirred enthusiasm as well as ripples both in Nepal and abroad. The news has
created enthusiasm among the Nepali people and others who want to see
strong, friendly and cooperative relations between these two close
neighbours. This section of people, which forms a large majority in Nepal,
are now eager to welcome Prime Minister of the country which is not only a
cradle of civilization and a great international power but also a good
friend and well-wisher of Nepal and the Nepalese people.

Wen will be the highest ranking politician of China to visit Nepal in the
period of one decade. The last Chinese premier to visit Nepal was Zhu Rongji
in 2001. Earlier, Premier Li Peng, Zhou Enlai and president, Li Xiannian and
Jiang Zemin too had visited Nepal. Although there have been many exchanges
of visits from both sides at different levels on regular basis which have
provided opportunity for both the countries to share and exchange ideas,
explore areas of cooperation and nurture bilateral ties, no Chinese leader
of Wen's stature has visited since Premier Zhu's last visit. During this
period, two Nepali heads of state and three prime ministers have already
paid official visits to China. Chinese premier's visit had long been
expected.

During the visit, Wen is expected to meet with a host of leaders and
officials and discuss wide-ranging issues pertaining to bilateral relations
between Nepal and China as well as regional and international issues. During
Wen's visit, some important deals are likely to be agreed upon that include
issues ranging from cooperation, political, social, cultural security and
trade.

Wen's visit comes at a time when China has already emerged as world's second
largest economy and poised to outpace the United States of America in near
future and also has greater international clout and influence (The
International Monetary Fund has predicted that China would be world's
largest economy in 2016 leaving behind the United States). Thus, Chinese
premier's visit is being keenly and cautiously watched by the entire world.

More cautious are the United States and India as they perceive China as
their competitor. They are threatened by China's economic miracle
accompanied by the growing military might and international clout. However,
China does not consider any country as its competitor but always maintains
that its peaceful rise poses no threat to any country in the world. And
there is no reason for anyone to be susceptible about Wen's visit to Nepal
since the visit is purely goodwill one aimed at strengthening friendly and
neighbourly ties subsisting between these two traditional friends and
strengthen their level of cooperation.

Nepal is China's close friend which shares more than 1400 kilometer border,
slightly less than Nepal's border with India. Nepal and China have cordial,
cooperative and friendly relations from time immemorial. The bilateral ties
between these two countries are as old as our civilization. China's
contribution to Nepal has been so old that no other country can match.
Legend has it that Kathmandu was once a big lake with no human settlement. A
saint from central China called Manjushree came to Nepal and cut open the
mountain with his sword and drained the water from the lake, thus creating
the Kathmandu Valley. After letting the water drain out, Manjushree
established human settlement in Kathmandu. Similarly, noted Chinese monks
namely Fahien and Huen Tsang came to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha,
on pilgrimages and wrote in detail a travel account which popularized Nepal
in China.

Buddhism is an important thread that has bound the two countries together.
Bhrikuti, a Nepali prince who married with a Tibetan king, not only brought
Nepal and China closer but also established Buddhism as a mainstream
religion in Tibet and mainland China. Buddhism and Confucian philosophy have
shaped the Chinese society and its outlook. Buddhism is a great contribution
of Nepal to China. Similarly, Nepali artist Balbahu, who is popularly known
as Arniko, made a long voyage to Beijing in ancient time and made Pagoda
style of architecture popular in China. Invited from a Chinese emperor,
Arniko along with his fellow craftsmen built several temples, palaces and
buildings in unique pagoda style which earned high degree of respect of
Chinese people for Nepal and Nepalese people. Arniko's contribution to
enhance Nepal-China relations both in official as well as people's level was
huge and immense, which is still being remembered with high esteem. In the
later years, too, several monks, saints, sages and scholars like Buddhabhdra
and others had visited China and enriched Buddhism. These are some of the
instances which are indicative of the fact that Nepal and China have
contributed to one another right from the ancient time and strengthened ties
both at official and popular level.

Nepal and China have never had any kind of hitch and problems in their
relations throughout history. Nepal always gave priority to relations with
China. Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of unified and modern Nepal, has
suggested, in his noble directives of 'Dibya Upadesh' to maintain good
relations with the Emperor of China', which have been followed by all
governemnts as of now. However, when China was preoccupied with its own
internal problem and came under foreign occupation, there had been slackness
in Nepal-China relations. At the same time, Nepal came with headlong
collision with British imperialist power in South Asia which ended after
Sugauli Treaty. The Sugauli Treaty was imposed on Nepal by British imperial
power and some of the provisions of the treaty are unequal and humiliating
for Nepal. After the Sugauli Treaty, Nepal's foreign policy remained
British-centric which continued until in 1947. After British left India in
1947, Nepal's court switched over its loyalty from British colonial power to
the new regime in New Delhi, which, too, adopted the same old colonial
policy with Nepal. During the entire period from Sugauli Treaty to 1950
political change, little efforts were made at the official level to promote
Nepal-China ties, although the relations at the popular level were
excellent.

The 1950 marked a change in political and foreign policy front as Nepal came
out of the policy of isolation. Newer initiatives were made to revive and
reinvigorate relations with China. Beijing, too, saw a historic and
epoch-making changes as People's Republic of China was established in 1949
following the success of revolution launched under the banner of Communist
Party of China. The 1955 is a historic year in terms of Nepal-China
relations as formal diplomatic relationship was established between
democratic Nepal and People's Republic of China. Since then the bilateral
relations have continued to grow, despite certain elements being at work to
create misunderstanding and suspicion between Kathmandu and Beijing.

The relations between Nepal and China were established and have been
nurtured on the basis of mutual equality and Five Principles of Peaceful
Co-existence. They understand one another's sensitivity. China has been
Nepal's true friend and friend in need. China has supported Nepal in
various fronts including its development. China's contribution to Nepal's
development is very significant which is motivated by helping the neighbour
to stand on its own foot. The Chinese assistance includes the areas like
infrastructure development, establishment of industries, human resource
development and health and sports. Chinese support in infrastructure
development of Nepal has been vital. The Arniko Highway, Kathmandu-Bhaktapur
Road, Prithivi Highway, Narayanghat-Mungling Road, Gorkha-Narayanghat Road,
Kathmandu's Ring Road, Pokhara-Baglung Highway are some of the vital
infrastructure that were built under Chinese assistance. These roads are
serving as lifeline of the country. The Rasua-Syafrubesi road is currently
under construction with Chinese support. These are only a few instances and
China has supported several other projects.



The relations between China and Nepal have developed more rapidly in recent
years. The exchanges of visits from both countries at different levels have
enhanced mutual understanding and trust between these two neighbours.
Besides official level, people to people contacts are also growing
significantly which have further enriched bilateral relations in all fronts.

Premier Wen's visit comes at a time when Nepal is passing through a
transitional period. Nepal is busy in writing a new constitution and
institutionalizing peace process. The situation in Nepal is still in a state
flux. In the government are the Maoists and the Madhesi parties. The current
government is viewed as more friendly towards India than China. Some are a
bit apprehensive about Wen's visit in the present context. However, China
may have its own perspective and view. China's main concern in Nepal is it
security. Beijing does not take Nepal as a threat but certain external
elements are active to instigate anti-China activities from Nepal's
territory with the sinister motive of creating instability in China. In this
design, some political forces and people are being used by external
elements. the China's worry at present is understadable because some key
security related ministries like Home Affairs and Defense are controlled by
the Madhesi parties, which are being dubbed as pro-Indian forces. But
Chinese Prime Minister wants to visit at this juncture so that Beijing would
engage even pro-Indian forces in Nepal and wants assurances from them about
China's security. Against this background, Premier Wen's visit, if it at all
takes place, would carry much significance which is expected to have
far-reaching impact not only on bilateral relations but also in the regional
balance of power.