VISIT OF CHINESE DELEGATION
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Neighborly Concern
As Nepal is preparing to hold the elections for Constituent Assembly, a high level delegation from China comes to comprehend the situation
By KESHAB POUDEL
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Regmi and Li sign agreement : For mutual benefit |
At a time when international community has been showing their interest in the forthcoming elections for Constituent Assembly, China, Nepal's northern neighbor, too has shown its neighborly concern about Nepal's overall situation and prospects of holding the polls.
Since Nepal shares more than 1400 kilometers long border with China , Nepal 's political instability and worsening situation will have far reaching consequences in Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. This is why China keenly watches political development in Nepal . China feels any foreign interference in Nepal as a direct threat to security of Tibet .
Led by vice president of China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) professor Li Shaoxian, the high level Chinese delegation shared this concern with officials, political leaders and member of civil society.
" China wants to see politically stable and economically prosperous sovereign and independent Nepal . China will oppose any move by any outside force to intervene in the internal affairs of Nepal . Nepalese people will decide their fate through the elections of Constituent Assembly and China is ready support Nepal in this direction," said vice president professor Li. CICIR is an internationally acknowledged international comprehensive research institute of China with top scholars and experts of various subjects in its realm.
During their five days stay, vice president Li's delegation met with prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, foreign minister Sahana Pradhan and other high level officials, political leaders of major political parties, elections commissioners and civil society members. They also visited Maoist cantonment.
Although Chinese government is yet to officially recognize CPN-Maoists, various Chinese delegations representing non-governmental level have already held a series of meeting with Maoist leadership and Maoist leaders, too, have visited China . Professor Li's delegation also met with Maoist leader Prachanda and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.
Li's delegation –which visited Nepal under the invitation of China Study Center - also went to Lumbini, birth place of Gautam Buddha.
As Nepal 's stability is still under threat, Chinese have shown serious concerns over the ongoing political activities. "Today, Nepal needs China 's all round unflinching support than ever before and it is firmly there. China 's strong support to Nepal has been declared once again by the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Mr. Zheng Xianglin in a recent interview to Nepal Weekly. Stressing that there is no change in the Chinese policy towards Nepal announced by its Deputy Prime Minister Chen-Yi in 1962, ambassador Zhen said that 'When Nepali people face difficulties and pain, we will take that as ours; especially when Nepali people face some difficulties to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any foreign intervention in Nepal will not be tolerated by China .' This manifestation of the Representative of our great northern neighbor conveys in clearest term that Nepal-China relationship is inseparably bound together," said Madan Regmi, chairman of China Study Center , Nepal . "We have over 2000 years old cultural bondage. Buddha and his teachings have been the cardinal source and strength of our cultural relations."
During their visit, CICIR delegation signed agreement with China Study Center for academic exchange and cooperation. Chairman of China Study Center (CSC), Nepal Madan Regmi and vice present of CICIR professor Li Shaoxian signed an agreement for academic exchanges and cooperation between them.
CSC and CICIR agreed in sharing the common goal of mutually strengthening academic research capabilities of two institutions and promoting the traditional neighborly friendship and bilateral cooperation through consultation based on equal footing.
Among others, CSC and CICIR agreed to exchange delegation from each other sides every alternative year. The agreement stipulates CSC and CICIR will invite each other to the international conferences, symposium and seminars organized by them. Under the agreement, CSC and CICIR will hold joint research program over the issues of common concern.
With the restoration of Loktantra, a number of governmental and non-governmental delegations from China visited Nepal . All of them stressed the need to make Nepal prosperous, independent and sovereign. That is also the pre-requisite for the security of China .
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