Their Majesties leaving for China today

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb. 25: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, along with Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, is leaving for China tomorrow for a week-long State Visit at the invitation of the Chinese President Jiang Zemin. This is the third State Visit of Their Majesties to China – the earlier two were in December 1973 and in September 1993.

Besides the two state visits, His Majesty the King has also visited China six times in the past on the official level and as goodwill, private and friendly visits.

All these visits made by the Nepalese monarch have been instrumental in promoting and strengthening relations between the two countries. The significance of all these visits is that they are accorded very high importance by the Chinese government.

Prof. Yubraj Singh Pradhan, who was Nepal’s former ambassador to China, says it is a great honour accorded to His Majesty to be the Guest of Honour in the inaugural ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia to be held in the Hainan province of China.

"Making Nepalese Monarch the Guest of Honour at such an important Forum indicates the great importance China gives to the geo-political situation of Nepal," said the former ambassador.

He also said that China has always taken the Nepalese King as a continuing factor of friendship and relationship between the two countries.

Prof. Panna Kaji Amatya also said the present visit of the King carries more weight than the previous visits made by the King.

"The visit is taking place when the domestic situation is marred by several anomalies and the King advice will be taken note of by all the political parties of the countries," said Amatya. Moreover, Amatya said, this visit is taking place at a time when Nepal’s contact with its northern neighbour is at low ebb.

"We need to expand contacts and interactions with our northern neighbour, not to counterbalance Nepal’s relations and contacts with its southern neighbour, but solely for the benefit of our two countries," said Amatya.

Prof. Pradhan also said our friendship and good relation with China would be an asset in time of difficulties and crisis.

Both the intellectuals said several concrete steps have been taken in the last few years to expand Nepal’s relations with China and the present visit of His Majesty will consolidate that relation further.

Amatya said till now Nepal-China relations have been confined mainly at the government level. That relation needs to be expanded to other sectors, at the non-government level and on the economic front, he said. They said there have also been indications of China extending co-operation in military training.

However, both said in the future the Nepal-China should work to further trade and investment and also in tourism. On the economic front some work has been done after the formation of the Nepal-China Non-governmental Forum in 1996. Recently, the two countries are thinking of opening new routes to expand trade between the two countries.

Pradhan said with China adopting the capitalist economic policy and the country continuing to attain remarkable economic growth, it could be a very big market for Nepalese tourism. He said China is even opening a tourism bureau in Nepal so that more Chinese could visit Nepal.

Amatya said besides consolidating the existing ties, the present visit of the Nepalese King has given indications about the further expansion of economic relations between the two countries.

RSS adds: Nepal-China relations have been marked by exchange of visits at the highest level ever since the establishment of diplomatic ties in l955.

It may be recalled that the first state visit paid to China by a head of state of Nepal was by His late Majesty King Mahendra in 1961.

Apart from the state visits, Their Majesties also paid an official visit to China in September l987 at the friendly invitation of president Li Xian-Nian and Madam Lin Jia Mei, and a goodwill visit in June l976.

Their Majesties also paid a week-long visit to China in August of l996 at the friendly invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Their Majesties paid a private visit to China in May l978 en route to Japan, and another private visit there in August l979 when Their Majesties were en route to the sixth Non-Aligned Summit Conference in Havana.

His Majesty also visited China in l966 when His Majesty was the then Crown Prince.

Visits to China paid by other Nepalese leaders include those by Prime Minister Tanka Prasad Acharya, Prime Minister B.P. Koirala, Prime Minister Kirtinidhi Bista, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Similarly, visits paid to Nepal from the Chinese side include those paid by Premier Chou En-Lai, Deng Xiaoping, President Li Xiannian, Premier Zhao Ziyang, Premier Li Peng, Chairman Li Ruihuan and the state visit paid by President Jiang Zemin as recently as l996.

As His Majesty the King observed at the end of Their Majesties’ second state visit to China in l993, its objective was to consolidate good relations subsisting between the two countries, and it was an opportunity to review friendship between two friendly countries.

The highlights of the state visit starting tomorrow will be the meetings His Majesty the King will have with President Jiang Zemin. Top Chinese leaders including Premier Zhu Rongji, vice President Hu Jintao and Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress will have separate audiences with His Majesty.

His Majesty will also attend the Boao Forum for Asia inaugural ceremony at Boao, Hainan Province as a guest of honour.

Relations between Nepal and China have been based on Panchasheel and Nepal has been a consistent supporter of Beijing’s one China policy regarding Taiwan.

China has played a key role in Nepal’s economic development, including through the construction of infrastructure such as highways and factories, and through the opportunities made available for training Nepalese doctors and engineers at Chinese institutes of higher learning.

The state visit starting tomorrow takes on added importance in view of the changing times characterised by the emergence of China as an economic power house as well as change in the Tibet Autonomous Region foreshadowed by the proposed improved transport link between Lhasa and Shanghai.

China’s wish to enter the world trade organisation and Nepal’s own aspirations towards WTO membership give the two neighbouring countries something still more in common.

Royal visits to China

SN Name Date Type Remarks

1 His Late Majesty King Mahendra Sept.28-Oct.15, 1961 State

2 His Majesty the King (as Crown Prince) June-July 1966

3 Their Majesties the King and Queen Dec. 7-13,1973 State

4 His Majesty the King June 2-9 1976 Goodwill Senchaun Province and Tibet AR

5 Their Majesties the King and Queen May 14-15, 1978 Private En route to Japan

6 Their Majesties the King and Queen August 26-29, 1979 Private En route to Havana

7 Their Majesties the King and Queen July 27 August 3, 1982Friendly Gansu Province and Tibet AR

8 Their Majesties the King and Queen Sept. 14-17, 1987 Official Lanzhou, Beijing

9 Their Majesties the King and Queen Sept. 20-27, 1993 State Beijing, Xian, Guittin, Selmzhen

10 Their Majesties the King and Queen August 23-30, 1996 - Beijing, Lhasa and Chongqing

11 HRH the Crown Prince Dipendra Oct. 25-Nov. 2, 1994 Official

Talks will help break deadlock in House: Sushil

Kathmandu, Feb. 25 (RSS): Nepali Congress central member Sushil Koirala has expressed confidence that the talks being held between government and the opposition parties will help break the deadlock in parliament.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club Nepal here today, Mr Koirala said disruption of regular parliamentary proceedings does not help resolve any problems and it is not reasonable on the part of the CPN-UML to drag out the Lauda aircraft issue, which is under consideration of the Supreme Court and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

Stating that the Prime Minister, who commands a majority in parliament should not be forced to resign, Mr Koirala said he, however, can be removed through constitutional process.

Growing individualistic attitude and mafia nature have been taking over the party, Mr Koirala said guided by the message of the 10th NC general convention the party president is trying his best to move ahead the party by accommodating all, he said.

The Nepali Congress is about to launch a new campaign of wiping out corruption, Mr Koirala said, adding that the citizenship bill is designed to resolve the citizenship problem of the country and that the Nepali Congress is also sensitive towards not allowing any non-Nepalese to obtain Nepalese citizenship.

Visit will boost ties: His Majesty

Kathmandu, Feb. 25 (RSS): His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has said that His Majesty’s forthcoming State Visit to the People’s Republic of China will contribute to the further consolidation of the traditional ties of friendship between Nepal and China.

"I am looking forward to meeting His Excellency President Jiang Zemin and discussing with him the strategies of setting up a good-neighbourly partnership between the two countries in the new century," the King said in a recent interview given to Xinhua before his China visit scheduled from February 26 to March 4.

President Jiang Zemin and King Birendra agreed to set up a good-neighbourly partnership between Nepal and China in the 21st century during President Jiang’s state visit to Nepal in December 1996.

King Birendra said that Nepal and China, as close and good neighbours, share a common border of over 1,400 kilometers and the friendship between them dates back centuries.

"I am happy to note that they are based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and good neighbourliness," the King said.

"We must ensure that our traditional bonds of friendship always remain firm and steadfast, as we move with the times," the King added.

The King expressed belief that increasing visits of high-ranking officials between the two countries will help to enhance friendship and cooperation in all fields.

Stating that China has been a consistent partner in Nepal’s development endeavours, King Birendra felt grateful to the aid and support extended by the Chinese government for its economic development in the past decades and hoped that such cooperation will be further strengthened in the new century.

"In order to give further impetus to Nepal-China relations as we move into the 21st century, both the governments and the private sectors of our countries should, I feel, focus on economic cooperation to the mutual benefit of our peoples," the King said.

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Nepal and China in 1955, King Birendra has paid nine visits to China. Having witnessed the great changes in China during the past five decades, especially since China took an open-door and reform policy in 1978, the King expressed heartfelt admiration for what China has achieved.

"I have been able to see for myself the impressive economic progress your country has made over the years and the current policy adopted by China has been instrumental in improving the quality of lives of its people," the King said.

During his stay in China, King Birendra will also go to Shanghai and Hainan province to see projects of agriculture, information technology and urban development.

"We have been observing the remarkable socio-economic transformation taking place in China, and Nepal hopes to learn from China’s experience, especially in the fields of human resource and infrastructure development along with applied science and technology," the King concluded.

No political party has right to violate constitution: Mahat

Nuwakot, Feb. 25 (RSS): Finance Minister Dr. Ramsharan Mahat has said that currently the country is undergoing a difficult situation as anti-constitutional forces are hiding in the forests and indulging in the politics of violence, while the opposition parties, who claim to be law abiding are also spreading anarchy in a lawless manner.

Inaugurating the eighth district assembly meeting of Nuwakot District Development Committee (DDC) at Bidur today, he said that as democracy is the rule of law, no political party has the right to violate the constitution.

Although it is natural on the part of the opposition to demand the Prime Minister’s resignation citing specific issues, it is not reasonable to disrupt the parliamentary proceedings for weeks by dragging out the issue, he observed.

Stating that the country’s overall situation has remained quite satisfactory since the restoration of democracy, he said that the DDC should also work for the monitoring of developmental activities and elimination of corruption.

He also gave away cash prize and letters of commendation awarded by the district development committee to he various office heads and employees for their outstanding performances.

MP Mahendra Bahadur Panday expressed the view that the Prime Minister should resign to facilitate the investigation into his alleged involvement in the Lauda aircraft controversy.

Vice-president of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and MP Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani said that RPP has joined hands with the CPN-UML in parliament in seeking the Prime Minister’s resignation but it will not take the issue to the street together with the CPN-UML.

Nuwakot DDC chairman Bharat Prasad Dhungana presented the annual budget estimate of Rs 384,026,243 for the fiscal year 2001-02.

Senior council member Ramji KC presided over the inaugural ceremony.

FNJ meet winds up with Butwal declaration

Butwal, Feb. 25 (RSS): The central annual general meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) concluded here today after approving its first amended constitution-2057 B.S.

The amended constitution has included measures to expand membership of the Federation with the addition of provisions for honorary and guest membership, extended the term of the Federation’s working committee to three years, simplified the process of forming FNJ branches and made membership distribution and renewal transparent in order to discourage entry of non-journalists into the Federation.

Issuing an 18-point Butwal declaration, the general meeting also made a sincere request to the government for the establishment of a national level Lumbini journalism study and research centre in Rupandehi District.

The declaration has also emphasised the need to present and approve at the current 19th session of the Parliament the bill concerning right to information, formulate national advertisement policy in order to create opportunity for equal distribution of public advertisements and effective enforcement of the working journalists regulations.

Attention has also been drawn in the declaration towards providing 50 per cent concession on air and surface transport fare for journalists on duty travels inside the country.

The meeting also pointed out the need for the state to protect and develop local and small investment newspapers, formulate special policy for press transportation and distribution, and recommendation of the Federation, Press Council and working journalist regulations should be considered while distributing press representative identity cards.

The declaration also called for reviewing of all laws concerning information and communications taking into consideration the advancement that the information technology has seen worldwide and measures to avoid unnecessary interference of the local administration in the distribution of newspapers in some districts.

At the general meeting held under the chairmanship of FNJ president Suresh Acharya, general secretary Taranath Dahal and treasurer Shiva Khadka presented the federation’s annual report and financial report respectively.

Altogether 316 journalists from across the country took part in the meeting.

Earlier Minister Joshi inaugurated the Federation of Nepalese Journalists central general meeting and constitutional convention here today.

The convention with its motto "professional journalism for the 21st century" aims at development of professional journalism, reviewing the present FNJ leadership’s works in promoting rights and interest of professional journalists, discussion on the first amendment to its constitution to update it, on the bases of professional journalism and its challenges and on the proposed bill relating to rights to information and identification of resources for the establishment of a journalism research centre in Butwal.

In his inaugural address, Minister Joshi stressed that in the present context, journalists should do responsible reporting for the protection and promotion of multi-party system.

Noting that political parties as well as journalists played notable role in the establishment of democracy in the country, Minister Joshi said journalists need to bring to light the bold and achievement aspects of democracy during its ten years in existence.

Waves of enthusiasm surged in the fourth estate with the establishment of multi-party-system in the country and with that came both quantitative and qualitative development of newspapers, he noted, adding that the government was doing home works on a bill relating to right to information in the interest of the journalists.

He disclosed that home works were also under way on formation of a remuneration and compensation committee for the implementation of the working journalist act and on formulation of a national advertisement policy designed to bring uniformity in advertisement policy.

Nepal Press Council chairman Harihar Birahi said that after crossing a state of uncertainty and dilemma, the Nepalese journalism today stands on the turning point of professionalism and therefore, active effort was necessary to promote professionalism.

Ex-minister Vishnu Poudel said the need of the hour for the journalists is to do responsible journalism.

Mayor Bhoj Prasad Shrestha of Butwal said journalists should do objective journalism in the interest of the nation and people.

The Butwal municipality wants develop Butwal as a communication centre, he added.

FNJ central president Suresh Acharya presided over the inauguration function.

FNJ general secretary Taranath Dahal, central vice president Meghraj Sharma, FNJ Rupandehi unit president Binod Pahadi spoke on the problems of journalism.

At the function, Minister Joshi also released a newspaper published from here by Rupandehi branch.

A journalists’ march around the town was held here this morning to mark the central general meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and its constitutional convention.

Minister for Information and Communications Shiva Raj Joshi, FNJ central committee office-bearers, advisors, council members, local people’s representatives, industrialists and businessmen participated in the march which started from Kranti Sabha Griha, raising slogans for the rights and interests of journalists.

Polls peaceful save some scuffles

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb. 25: Tens of thousands of students under Tribhuban Univertisty and Mehendra Sanskrit University lined up nation-wide today to elect their union representatives. The polls concluded largely peacefully except in Shankardev Campus, Sharaswoti Campus and Shurkhet Campus where the elections were postponed indefinitely due to scuffles between opposing panels.

In Kathmandu, the elections were postponed indefinitely at Sh ankardev Campus due to a dispute between the students of Nepal Students Union (NSU) and NSU rebels over fake identity cards. And the elections got deferred at Sharaswoti Campus owing to a controversy over the voters’ list.

Tribhuvan University (TU) sources said that the elections were postponed in Shurkhet Multiple Campus and Shurkhet Education Campus as the supporters of NSU and All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU) had a dispute and started tearing the ballot papers.

The elections were not held in Jumla Campus as it was closed for winter while the elections were held off in Hetauda’s Forestry Campus owing to examinations. The polls were not held in Gorkha Campus as it remained closed because of political tussles between the opposing groups.

In Kathmandu about 55 per cent students participated in the elections to choose their representatives for the next two years.

The leaders of NSU as well as ANNFSU affiliated to the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) claimed that they would get victory in majority of in over 110 TU and MSU campuses while the office bearers of ANNFSU affiliated to the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) hoped to extend their hold among students.

The results declared so far however show NSU in the lead followed by CPN-UML affiliated ANNFSU.

NSU office secretary Laxman Basnet said that NSU candidates were elected unopposed in Public Youth Campus and Public Administration Campus. Outside the valley, NSU candidates were elected unopposed in Rajarshi Janak Vidhyapith, Janakpur, Yalana Vidhyapith, Mahottari and Nilakantha Campus, Dhading.

NSU panels got elected in capital’s Ayurved Campus, Chabahil Campus and Mahalaxmi Campus (Luvu). Solukhumbu’s B. P Sanskrit Campus, Nepalgunj’s Nursing Campus, Rukum’s Khalanga Campus, Jhapa’s Dhulabari Campus, Bhairawa’a Paklihawa Campus, Biratnagar’s Nursing Campus and Dang’s Mahendra Sanskrit University Campus too went to NSU.

ANNFSU’s panels - affiliated to the UML - got victory in Achham’s Janta Campus, Pokhara’s Nursing Campus and Palpa’a Mandabya Campus.

ML affiliated ANNFSU’s vice-president Shiva Gurung said that their panel emerged victorious in Tanahu’s Bhanubhakta Campus and the majority of the seats in Grameen Adarsha Campus and Bir Nursing Campus went in their favour.

According to a source, the ANNFSU (M.L) has also won in the Amrit Science Campus, Kathmandu.

The vote counting was underway in the big TU campuses in Kathmandu and beyond.

Public hearing on Melamchi project

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb.25: A public hearing was held at Melamchi of Sindhupalchok District on Saturday to throw lights on the activities of the implementation of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP) and to get feed-backs from the local residents directly or indirectly affected by the biggest drinking water project, a press statement of Melamchi Water Development Board (MWDB) said here today.

Local people’s representatives, politicians, project staff and a huge number of common people had participated in the program. Presided by the Chairman of Melamchi Village Development Committee Dharma Krishna Shrestha, the program heard the briefing of Senior Engineer Krishna Rana of MWDB.

He informed the meeting what was discussed during a recent workshop on water supply in Kathmandu. The workshop, he said, had basically focussed on the distribution of water, levy, and tariff fixation. These issues, according to Shrestha, will have to be decided by the next nine months.

When asked how much of the Melamchi waters would be diverted toward Kathmandu, he said that the local residents who will be affected by the project would receive the due compensation. "Before the construction work begins, there will be intensive study on the social, economic and environmental impacts in the Melamchi area and the locals directly and indirectly affected by the project will be given the right facilities."

MWSP aims to pipe in 170 million litres of water in a day through a 27 kilometre-long tunnel from the Melamchi River.

Binod Pokhrel of Norplan, a Norwegian consultant to MWDB, explained the gathering about the project’s diversion scheme and five different areas associated with it. He also said that the MWSP was all set to launch social welfare programs for the local population below the poverty line. Known as Local Administration Program, it has 12 persons including seven locals working as social motivators. The program will run for 10 years through the District Development Committee.

Speaking during the program, regional member of the Nepali Congress, Shiva Prasad Lamichhane said that the local people have pinned their hopes on the project. "There should be a proper assessment of the project’s impact on the 14 Village Development Committees in the Melamchi area. Many unemployed youths in the area should be provided with the opportunities of employment."

Radha Krishna Shrestha, Headmaster of Indreni High School, in the premises of which the program took place, praised that the project would provide teaching facilities and said that the teachers should be trained for their career betterment.

Suryaman Tamang of Nepal Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) inquired what would be the compensation to the landowners whose land would be affected by the project. "The MWDB has already formed a compensation fixation committee comprising of representatives of the concerned village development committees, and one representative from among the affected families," stated the press statement of the MWDB.

Dambar Bahadur Aryal, Chairman of Sindhupalchowk District Development Committee, stressed that the locals must receive some facilities for having shared the Melamchi waters with the capital’s residents.