Wen's visit: Nepal-China ties renewed

Yuba Nath Lamsal

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao paid a whirlwind one-day visit to Nepal on January 14, which is a matter of pride for the people of Nepal. The Himalayan republic had long been eager to welcome the Premier of the second mightiest country in the world.

Wen came to Nepal on virtually four-hour \'official\' visit at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai. Earlier, a three-day visit had been planned but was postponed for reasons unknown. However, sources said the visit was deferred because Beijing was not fully confident of security arrangement as well as Nepal\'s diplomatic immaturity. The sudden postponement of Wen\'s visit had definitely upset Nepal\'s Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai who wanted to give a message both at home and abroad that he was had enjoyed the recognition of the world including Nepal\'s two immediate neighbors-China and India. Ever since he was elected as prime minister, Dr Bhattarai, on various forums and occasions, has been repeatedly saying that he aimed at acting as a genuine between China and India.

Dr Bhattarai had earlier been perceived as the one who had pro-India orientation. He wanted to dispel this perception from people\'s mind and proved by action that he was neither pro-Indian nor anti-Chinese but a pragmatist patriotic politician. Dr Bhattarai, thus, desperately wanted Chinese Prime Minister\'s visit to Nepal in his tenure of premiership. However, constituents of Dr Bhattarai-led coalition government and also some members of the cabinet were not enthusiastic to welcome the Chinese Prime Minister. This was the reason why the earlier scheduled visit was postponed and the recent visit was also cut down to four hours from earlier three-day trip.

This shows that China does not trust the present government\'s capability and honesty. There is no doubt over the intention and sincerity of Prime Minister Bhattarai. But the developments have shown that the government is not in his control and so is security apparatus. The earlier postponement had caused diplomatic embarrassment to Prime Minister Bhattarai and his government. The government came under heavy criticism from opposition parties and others for the diplomatic failure. Dr Bhattarai desperately approached Beijing to reschedule Wen\'s visit. Similarly, Beijing, too, did not want to annoy Bhattarai despite its displeasure over what has happened in Nepal especially activities concerning security of China\'s Tibet province and accordingly arranged Wen\'s brief stop-over trio to Kathmandu en route to three-country visit of Middle East. During the visit, China announced comprehensive economic assistance to Nepal and also renewed its long and historic friendly relationship with Nepal.

Though brief, the visit of Chinese Premier Wen\'s visit is highly important for both Nepal and China. The repercussions of Wen\'s visit definitely will be far-reaching not only in Nepal and China but also in the entire South Asia and beyond. The world was, therefore, watching closely and enthusiastically Wen\'s visit to Nepal and its outcome.

The visit is a milestone in the bilateral relations between the two traditionally close friends. Wen is the highest ranking politician and the most important dignitary 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 2001 when Premier Zhu paid official visit to Nepal. During this period, two Nepali heads of state and three prime ministers have already paid official visits to China.

Much change has taken place in the world since Premier Zhu paid visit to Nepal. Both China and Nepal have seen tremendous changes over the last one decade. Nepal underwent internal upheaval that overthrew feudal monarchy and the country has now been transformed into a federal democratic republic. Nepal is currently in the process of institutionalizing republican democracy and the peace process initiated five years ago.

There has also been a sea change in China especially in the economic and developmental front. Over the last one decade China has made a miraculous progress in the economic development. China has already emerged as the second largest economy in the world leaving behind Japan and posed to become world\'s largest economy in a few years surpassing the United States of America.

Although Nepal and China are traditionally close friends having no problems at all, these countries have to introspect on how these cooperative relations can be remodeled to cope with the newer changes taken place in the world as well as in the neighborhood so that the bilateral and mutual relations and cooperation may have direct and more positive impact on the life of the peoples of both the countries. China\'s foreign policy focus at present has been in building its soft power image in the world and more in the neighborhood. China has always been a soft power throughout history. It has attached greater priority to the projects and cooperation that would directly benefit the people. Already China has been involved in infrastructure development of Nepal. Beijing is now more interested to help in such a way that Nepal can be self-reliant and a stable country. Apart from infrastructure, China has now accorded equal priority to education, culture and other people\'s to people relation as a part of projecting China as a soft power image. China\'s interest in helping Buddhist academic research and cultural promotion can be viewed against this background. This is the reason why China has shown interest to develop holy Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

As a neighbor China\'s prime concerns in Nepal, like in other small countries in the neighborhood, are peace, stability and development. China is more concerned in Nepal because of its security in Tibet. This is because some elements are trying to use Nepal\'s territory to instigate anti-China activities and destabilize Tibet. These elements may take further benefit from Nepal\'s political instability. Beijing knows well that roots of conflict and instability is poverty and underdevelopment. At the same time, development is not possible in the absence of stability and peace. Mindful of this, Beijing is interested to help Nepal\'s peace process in whatever ways possible. Stability and peace are not only Nepal\'s concern but they are also in China\'s interest because Nepal\'s stability is in a way or the other linked with Tibet\'s security.

Wen\'s visit was an opportunity for both Nepal and China to reinforce their age-old ties. Despite his hectic work schedule, Wen spared some time to arrive in Nepal and express solidarity with the people of Nepal in their efforts of transforming Nepal into a peaceful and prosperous country. This is a testament of the fact that China has accorded greater priority to Nepal.

Wen\'s visit came at a time when Nepal is passing through a transitional period. Nepal is in the political transition from earlier feudal monarchical system to federal democratic set up. The peace process that began five years ago is in the final stage despite many hitches and hiccups. Wen\'s visit is a message that it wants to make significant contribution to Nepal\'s bid to establish permanent peace.

More than that the Chinese Premier visited Nepal at a time when there is a government which is perceived as being more \'India friendly\'. Beijing is knowledgeable about the political and foreign policy orientation of the constituents of the present coalition government headed by Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai. In his own Maoist party, Dr Bhattarai is viewed as a politician who is relatively softer towards Indian than China. Dr Bhattarai\'s orientation can be clearly seen in his political document he presented in the party\'s sixth plenum held in Palungtar of Gorkha district last year. In contrast to the reports party president Prachanda and senior Vice President Mohan Vaidya who had designated India as the principal enemy of the party and Nepalese people, Dr Bhattarai, in his dissenting document, had defended India. Beijing has full knowledge of Bhattarai\'s \'favor India\' orientation. But Bhattarai wants equally strong friendship with China.

Wen\'s visit had multiple purposes and wants to give multiple messages. The first purpose of Wen\'s visit is to give the message that China treats all political forces and governments equally. Beijing respects Nepal and Nepalese people and any legitimate government of Nepal is acceptable for China and wants to cooperate with it. Secondly, Wen\'s visit in the present transitional period is to extend China\'s full support to the ongoing peace process and wants to make meaningful contribution to Nepal\'s peace, stability and development.

Third purpose is to seek better cooperation in controlling anti-China activities in Nepal. One accepts it or not, sporadic anti-China activities have taken place using Nepali territory with the objective of destabilizing Tibet. Although Nepal has adopted one-China policy and has made its commitment public that it would never allow any kind of activities in its soil that are likely to harm the interest of any of our two neighbors including China. It has been perceived that Nepal has been paying only lip service to China\'s concern so far as anti-China activities are concerned. Despite public commitment of Nepal to check anti-China activities, such things are happening in Nepal with instigation from people who are closer to Nepal\'s southern neighbor. Thus, China wants better assurance from Nepal government in general and the constituents of the present coalition government on security of Tibet.

China, thus, wants reciprocity in relations and cooperation with Nepal. Beijing treats Nepal with dignity on the basis of mutual equality. China is open to extend any kind of cooperation and is prepared to invest huge amount in Nepal\'s hydro-power, infrastructure and tourism and cultural development. What China wants from Nepal is the assurance that it would not play any card against it and not be swayed by the unscrupulous elements that are out to destabilize China and create instability and chaos in Tibet. China wants Nepal to prove its commitment in action. If Nepal wins Beijing\'s trust, there would be no dearth of resources and fund for the development of Nepal.