Yet another reaffirmation for advancing Nepal-China ties

Yuba Nath Lamsal
A senior Chinese official recently visited Nepal after wrapping up visit to Bhutan. In Thimpu, vice foreign minister Fu Ying discussed with Bhutanese leaders and officials the issue concerning establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bhutan and consequently open Chinese mission in Thimpu.  This was, therefore, an important trip by Chinese leader as China and Bhutan are now seriously and closely working out formally establishing diplomatic ties and cooperating on various fields of mutual interests. This trip marks paradigm shift in Bhutan’s foreign policy as, once they establish diplomatic relations with China and open missions, Bhutan will practically come out of the influence and domination of Indian in Thimpu’s foreign and defence policy. Also it would herald yet another turning point in the economic development of Bhutan as China would come up with significant and sizable chunk of foreign assistance. China, too, is definitely likely to benefit from diplomatic, strategic and economic point of views. Like Nepal, Bhutan is also a close neighbor of China and an important opening for its trade with South Asia. But China has not always considered its economic benefit as its foreign policy priority. As China has now emerged as a global economic power, Beijing has felt its international obligation. Its development and economic miracle would be meaningless when its neighbors remain in the state of backwardness. Nepal and Bhutan are the least developed countries whose level of development is below world’s average. Beijing has, thus, felt necessary to help these two countries in their prosperity. Taking into account the purpose and goal of the visit, the trip of Chinese leader was very significant from the regional security, strategic and diplomatic perspective.
Similarly, Chinese vice foreign minister arrived in Kathmandu to discuss with the Nepalese leaders and officials on varieties of issues concerning bilateral ties, economic and trade cooperation as well as Chinese investment in Nepal’s infrastructure development projects. Apart from meeting and discussing with Nepalese leaders and officials on whole gamut of bilateral relations and cooperation, Ying led the Chinese delegation in the Nepal-China Consultative Mechanism, a bilateral forum for cooperation, the meeting of which is held in every four years in either in Beijing or Kathmandu in an alternative way. In this forum, issues concerning economic cooperation, trade ties and other matters of bilateral concern are discussed in a thorough and comprehensive manner and address them accordingly.
The visit of the Chinese vice-minister was significant for Nepal, too because this was an opportunity to review and renews the matters concerning bilateral relations and cooperation. More particularly, the Chinese high level delegation reviewed the status of agreements reached between Nepal and China during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. The visit has, thus, contributed in further cementing the bilateral relations and probing new areas of cooperation between the two close neighbours.
Nepal and China are close neighbors and friends in need. Both of these two countries have acted strictly in conformity with mutual equality, good neighborliness and five principles of peaceful co-existence, which are the basis of foreign policy formulation and conduct of both Nepal and China. Nepal is always committed to its one-China policy and considers Tibet, Taiwan as integral par t of China, which has been duly appreciated by Beijing. Nepal always wants territorial integrity of China and does not allow any kind of activities that may harm China’s territorial integrity and its overall interest. Similarly, China, too, is supporting Nepal in every sector ranging from infrastructural development to educational, cultural and economic and trade development. Recently, Nepal is political transition and is in the process of establishing sustainable peace. China has also shown keen interest in supporting in the peace process so that stability would dawn in Nepal which China considers the most essential prerequisite for economic development and prosperity.
China’s support to peace process does not mean Beijing has any interest in Nepal’s internal political affairs. China believes that it is the right of the people of Nepal to decide and choose their political system and government. Thus, China does not have any favorite political force in Nepal. Beijing treats and respects all political parties and forces of Nepal in equal terms and manner. China wants Nepali people to handle their own affairs and opposes any kind of external interference and meddling. However, some external forces, overtly and covertly, tend to interfere in Nepal’s internal affairs. This has concerned China in recent days. As a close neighbor of Nepal and a global power, it is natural for Beijing to be concerned in the development sin its neighborhood.
In the present globalised context when the world has been reduced to a narrow small global village, the events and developments in one country have impact on other countries. The developments that unfold in Nepal definitely make some both positive and negative impact on other countries particularly our immediate neighbours - China and India. Instability in Nepal is bound to have its negative impact in its neighbors including China and India. Thus, China wants to make sure that Nepal is peaceful, stable and economically self-reliant country. In such a situation, the concerns of a neighbor can well be justified. Despite its deep concerns over the affairs of Nepal, Beijing always refrains and has refrained to poke nose in Nepal’s internal affairs. But it has given a loud and clear message time and again that Beijing would not tolerate if sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbor ever come under threat under whatever pretext. This is a warning to those forces and elements which are trying to meddle in Nepal’s internal affairs and politics.
China has made tremendous progress on the economic front and wants similar progress and development in its neighborhood. Guided by this noble idea, China has been more forthcoming to invest and help Nepal. Beijing has thus shown interest in investing in Nepal’s infrastructure, energy, communication and tourism sector, which would ultimately contribute to lifting the people of Nepal out of poverty and backwardness. This message has been conveyed by the Chinese leaders time and again. However, Nepal seems not to have taken up this issue with great seriousness. Already a second largest and fastest growing economy, China wants to make significant contribution to the development of Nepal. However, Nepal has not been able to take maximum benefit out of this generous attitude of China.
Nepal, currently, is suffering from an acute power crunch. China has shown interest in investing in Nepal’s water resource and hydro-power development. China has money, expertise, capability and experience in hydro-power development in a difficult terrain like that of Nepal. If we are able to win the trust of China, we can bring huge Chinese investment and develop some mega hydro-power projects through which Nepal can not only be self-sufficient in energy but also earn huge foreign currency by exporting surplus electricity.
South Asia is suffering from a power shortfall, and other countries of the region, including India, may be willing to buy Nepal’s electricity. This would also help meet the growing power demand in India and other South Asian countries, which would be beneficial for both Nepal and other countries in the region.
But Nepal does not have a specific China policy to win the trust of Beijing. Although not spelt out specifically, there has been a deficit of trust due mainly to Nepal’s wavering foreign policy priority and unnecessary tilt to a particular country. Nepal considers China as a neighbor like any other country in Asia. In fact, this cannot be an appropriate foreign policy for Nepal. China and India are our two immediate neighbours, with whom Nepal shares a border, history, culture, religion and a long legacy of trade and friendship.
These two countries should occupy special priority and place in our foreign policy formulation. China is more important especially when it comes to Nepal’s survival strategy. China has never been a security problem for Nepal. Instead there are instances that China has come to Nepal’s rescue at difficult periods in history. Moreover, Nepal’s relationship with China is as old as our ancient civilization. Thus, China is and should be an important country for Nepal from which we can learn and benefit a lot.

It is not only with Nepal, China wants greater cooperation with the entire South Asia. It is against this background, China has entered the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).  So far China is an observer in the SAARC. But it is seeking the status of a dialogue partner or SAARC-plus one. In fact, China is both an East Asian as well as South Asian country. It has border with five of the eight SAARC countries. Given this position, it would be in the interest of South Asia to grant full status to China in the SAARC so that the South Asian forum would be more resourceful and representative as an organization of more than two billion people. The recent visit of the Chinese vice minister to Thimpu and Nepal can be viewed from this perspective.