Wang Yi’s Nepal Visit: Reinforcement of China’s Neighborhood Diplomacy



Yuba Nath Lamsal
After assuming leadership, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a blueprint of his vision for prosperous China and better world order. Known as the Chinese Dream, it is President Xi’s long-term goal of rejuvenating Chinese nation with power to raise the life of its own people and change the world for better. While domestic policy is to raise the living condition of Chinese people, his particular foreign policy focus is to strengthen neighborhood diplomacy. Outlining his vision in the international front, President Xi said, “Good diplomacy with neighboring countries is a requirement for realizing the Two Centenary Goals, and the Chinese Dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”. Adding further, President Xi elaborated the policy and priorities of his neighborhood diplomacy saying, “We need to work harder to promote our diplomacy with neighboring countries, strive for a sound regional environment for our development, apply our own development for the benefit of neighboring countries, and achieve common development with them”
This is a clear manifestation of China’s particular focus and emphasis on good neighborly diplomacy and foreign policy in which Nepal has occupied a prominent place. As a man of word and action, Xi has tried to translate his vision into a reality, the impact of which has started being visible. After Xi came to power, he embarked on a foreign visit from neighboring Russia. Over the last two years, Chinese President and Prime Minister have visited almost all neighboring countries where they have offered benevolence of cooperation for peace, development and prosperity without any strings attached. Connectivity and cooperation are the two key phrases that the new Chinese leadership has thought as the best approach to attain a common goal of prosperity and peace. Since Nepal is a close neighbor sharing 1400 kilometer common border, China considers it as the important country with which Beijing wants greater partnership. This can be substantiated by exchange of high level visits between the two countries and China’s decision to raise aid volume to Nepal by more than five folds.
In the period of two years, there have been quite a number of high level visits to Nepal. President Xi himself appears to be interested to visit Nepal in 2015 to coincide with the celebration of 60th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-China diplomatic relations. Both the countries have agreed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Nepal-China diplomatic relations in a grand manner throughout the year. Against this background, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited Nepal last week, which is being viewed as a prelude to President Xi’s visit next year. During foreign minister Wang’s visit, China announced increase in its annual aid volume to Nepal from 150 million Yuan to 800 million Yuan. This is a clear testament of the fact that Nepal is now in China’s priority list and Beijing wants to substantially and practically contribute to Nepal’s development. China knows well that its affluence will be meaningless if it remains surrounded by an ocean of poverty. Additionally, China wants its neighbors, too, benefit from its rise and prosperity for which Beijing is prepared to extend any kind of support deemed necessary for the development of neighboring countries. It is exactly guided by this purpose, China is trying to enlarge its engagement, presence and collaboration in Nepal.
China has always been opposed to hegemony of any particular country or a group of countries and advocated multilaterism for peaceful settlement of issues in the international arena. Beijing is always in pursuit of peace and cooperation worldwide and its growth and rise are for purely peaceful purpose. Although some countries in the West seem to be a bit skeptical about China’s rise in terms of economy and military strength, the rest of the world is more optimistic from China’s forward march on the path of development, modernization and prosperity. Nepal is one of those countries that have been optimistic and enthusiastic about China’s rise.
Foreign minister Wang’s visit and his remarks in Kathmandu carry significant meaning and message not only in the Nepal-China relations but also for peace and development in the entire South Asia. Apart from assuring additional assistance to Nepal and keen interest to be a good development partner, Wang asked Nepal to act as a vibrant bridge between China and the entire South Asia to reap benefit from the growth and development in its two immediate neighbors—India and China. This indicates how strategically important Nepal is for China. In addition, he suggested Nepal to take initiative for a trilateral partnership with India and China.
Being a world power, developments and events in China have their own impact in the world and more so in neighboring countries. China’s growth and developments are expected to have positive impact on neighboring countries including Nepal. Thus, China’s development has inspired Nepal and made optimistic. As President Xi and Chinese officials have repeatedly made their position clear that China’s rise is for peaceful purpose, China has now started to practically translate this into action. Based on the vision outlined in the Chinese Dream, China has recently expedited neighborhood diplomacy and augmenting cooperation with neighboring countries including Nepal so that neighbors practically and directly benefit from China’s rise. Nepalese are definitely optimistic from China’s rise.
Nepal is not only a neighbor but its strategic location has made its position even more important for its neighbors especially China. Beijing is now effortful in expanding relations and trade with India and South Asia for which Nepal is the key gateway. It is due to this position China has requested Nepal to act as a bridge between China and South Asia. It against this background, China has proposed a trilateral strategic partnership with Nepal and India. The trilateral partnership is not aimed at having an alliance against any other particular country or group but intends to work collectively for the benefit and development of these three countries. Trilateral partnership is a proposition which, perhaps, aims to compete for contribution to Nepal’s development and also enlarge trade and other cooperation between these three countries on a win-win basis. As Nepal is currently seeking foreign invest in its infrastructure development especially in hydropower, the concept of trilateral partnership and cooperation for Nepal’s development will have positive impact. Nepal has huge potential of hydro power generation, but does not have adequate fund to finance mega hydropower projects. India has huge demand of energy but does not have potential projects to meet this rising energy demand. In contrast, China has both money and expertise to develop hydro power projects. If these countries practically cooperate and collaborate, China may be interested to fund Nepal’s hydro power projects from which both Nepal and India can benefit. Nepal cannot absorb all energy generated from mega projects and it can be exported from which India can meet the growing demand of energy. Thus, the trilateral cooperation and partnership is a win-win concept which needs to be materialized for the benefit of all three countries.

Comments