China’s cooperative diplomacy in Nepal

Yuba Nath Lamsal
State Councilor and former foreign minister Yang Jiechi’s whirlwind visit to Nepal has been viewed as the important milestone in bilateral relationship and cooperation between Nepal and China. Apart from exchanging the language of goodwill and friendship, Yang offered something beyond what Nepalese people had earlier expected. During Yang’s visit, Nepal and China signed three important agreements. Two agreements are related with bilateral and technical cooperation and one is to provide support for the upcoming constituent assembly election. Under these agreements, China is to continue to provide the economic support to Nepal for the ongoing or earlier agreed projects and also for new areas of cooperation that includes assistance to build a training institution for Nepal Armed Police Force and also logistical support for Nepal’s upcoming Constituent Assembly election. On top of that, State Councilor Yang initiated much-awaited Ring Road upgrading project. The Ring Road widening project had been agreed earlier but signing of other two agreements is additional commitment and cooperation of China to Nepal.

The economic and technical cooperation agreement that two countries signed is the continuation of China’s earlier commitment for Nepal’s socio-economic development. China always considers Nepal a true friend and wants to be a genuine development partner, which can be well validated by the Yang’s own words. In a meeting with Nepalese leaders and officials and interaction with the cross section of people in Nepal, Yang described Nepal more than just a ‘dear-friend’ and a close-neighbor, but an excellent- partner of China. He further said: “Politically, we stand firm to support each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Economically, China will help our Nepali friends through aid and investment and cooperation”. This is a testimony of the fact that China attaches greater importance to Nepal and is willing to assist in Nepal’s quest for speedy development.

The assistance to build the state of art training academy of the Armed Police Force is aimed at building professional capability of Nepal’s paramilitary force, which is basically responsible for keeping vigil on border and other criminal activities along the border areas both in the north and the south. By providing assistance for the AFP training academy, China wants Nepal’s Armed Police Force more professional and capable in handling and controlling crimes in areas to its border areas. China is more concerned with the illegal and unwanted activities of some criminal elements to harm the interest of China particularly in Tibet Autonomous Region misusing Nepal’s territory. The increased capability of APF personnel is expected to check and curb criminal activities along the border including human smuggling and smuggling of other contraband goods.

So far as the support for the election is concerned, it is mainly directed towards supporting for Nepal’s political, stability and democracy. It is for this reason China has signed agreement to provide logistical support in the upcoming CA election. This is the first time Beijing has agreed to provide assistance for political purpose in Nepal. Earlier China’s focus was more for economic and infrastructure development. As Nepal is passing through a protracted transition due to delay in writing the new constitution, China wants this process to be complete at the earliest. This can be done only when the Constituent Assembly wrote and promulgated a new constitution and Beijing felt it necessary to extend support in action for Nepal’s political stability and wants to continue support even more in future, if needed. Yang’s remarks are sufficient to substantiate these logics as the Chinese State Councilor said: “China would like to see peace and development in Nepal and is happy to know that the election is taking place in Nepal” for which China is willing to cooperate with Nepal. China has, thus, supported Nepal’s political process not merely in words but in action, which is a testament of the fact that China is keen to become a genuine partner and Nepal’s friend in need.
Yang Jiechi’s recent visit to Nepal has, therefore, strategic and long-term significance for both Nepal and China. While Nepal benefits economically by China’s continued and increased financial as well as technical assistance, it is strategically important for China it helps further enhance Beijing’s soft power image in the neighborhood. As China has already emerged as the global power with the status of world’s second largest economy and military power, it has become cautious of its international responsibility and obligation. Beijing knows well that its prosperity will have no meaning if its neighborhood is poor and backward. China, thus, wants all its neighbors to benefit from its prosperity, which is the guiding force for Beijing to pursue the policy of good neighborliness and enhance the level of cooperation both at official as well as people’s level.  It is with this reason why China is now establishing and promoting friendly and cooperative relations not only in Nepal but also in the entire South Asia. The recent visit of China’s State Councilor and the pledge for greater degree of cooperation will go a long way in Nepal-China relation and cooperation.