Nepal-China relations have come a long way in the last six decades. And tomorrow marks the 60th anniversary of Nepal-China bilateral relations—defined by shared mountains and rivers.
On this day in 1955, representatives from the two countries concluded their six-day negotiations in Kathmandu and made a joint announcement to formally establish a bilateral relationship, entailing, among others, the exchanging of ambassadors.
In 1956, Nepal recognised Tibet as a part of China and has steadfastly stuck to the One-China policy. In 1960, Chinese Premier, and outstanding diplomat, Zhaou Enlai visited Nepal to formalise the treaty of peace and friendship with Nepal’s first elected Prime Minister BP Koirala. Ever since, there have been many high-level exchanges between the two countries involving the heads of state and of government from both nations.
The bilateral relationship has evolved with the changing times, but the fundamentals have largely remained the same: Nepal respecting the One-China Policy and China assisting Nepal in its socio-economic development. Nepal holds strategic interest for China’s security and larger South Asia policy-objectives. From the Chinese perspective, tranquility along its south-western border is especially important in view of the fact that it shares large swathes of its border with India, with whom it has had lingering border disputes. Nepal thus plays a pivotal role in China’s regional geo-political priorities, and the relationship today reflects not just China’s border concerns but encompasses its larger goals regarding economic development and social stability in the region. China believes a stable Nepal, and indeed a stable South Asia, will be in its interests as it continues its rejuvenation, a term much in vogue in China today, as it surges ahead as a world power.
China seems keen to deepen its economic ties with Nepal. Its commitment to bolstering the relationship was seen recently after the April 25 Great Quake. Besides sending teams of rescue experts, medical personnel and relief supplies to Nepal in the immediate aftermath of the quake, China has also pledged to continue providing help in the future. Between 2016 and 2018, it will give Nepal close to US$500 million of
grant assistance. The money will be channelled into five major areas: infrastructure, livelihood, cultural-site renovations, disaster preparedness and
health. The help should go a long way in getting Nepal back on its feet.
We can use the 60th anniversary of this important relationship to encourage even greater connectivity: we can work on building links (economic as well as infrastructural) between Nepal and China’s provinces of Tibet, Yunnan and Sichuan—as the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasised during last month’s International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction, held in Kathmandu.
28.12°C Kathmandu
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