FEATURES NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Sino-Nepal Relations
Depict True Friendship

THE Chinese premier Zhu Rongji and Madame Lao An paid a three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Nepal on May 14 at the invitation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. The Chinese Prime Minister, who is on a whirlwind tour of South Asia including Thailand, arrived here lost Monday from Pakistan. After his three-day visit to Nepal, he will leave this country on May 16 for Maldives and move on to Sri-Lanka on May 17 and will complete his tour in Thailand from May 19 to 22.

Premier Zhu, who is accompanied by his spouse Lao An, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng is the first Chinese Premier to make a trip to the countries in the South Asian region after a hiatus of 12 years.

Zhu’s visit is the fourth visit of the Chinese head of government after Chou Enlai’s first official visit to the Kingdom of Nepal in 1957. This is Zhu’s first visit to this tiny Himalayan Kingdom since he became the Prime Minister of China. It is also the first visit by a high-ranking Chinese Official in the beginniing of the new millennium.

This visit of the Chinese Premier has come soon after the successful state visit to China by Their Majesties the King and Queen which took place earlier this year. This important official visit to the Himalayan Kingdom by the top Chinese leader has taken place following the Chinese President Jiang Zemin’s landmark visit in 1996. The visit will add momentum to the good neighbourly partnership between China and Nepal in the new century.

In the backdrop of centuries old cultural, historical and archaeological relationships strengthened by exchange of visits and noble deeds of Princess Bhrikuti and Arniko of Nepal, Manjusri of China including other great scholars and historians, China and Nepal have been maintaining frequent high level exchange of visits particularly since the establishment of diplomatic relations 45 years ago in 1955. His late Majesty King Mahendra was the first Head of State of Nepal who had visited China since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Other Nepalese leaders and high ranking officials have also made frequent visits to China to consolidate the friendly ties and to expand trade as well as to increase Chinese investment in the country. Similarly Chinese leaders and officials at different levels had paid visits to Nepal on a regular basis. Also visits of business communities of both countries have taken place regularly, which have made significant contributions to the sustained and smooth development of bilateral relations. In addition there exists a geo-physical proximity. The geographical link has established a common border of over 1400 kilometres across the Himalayan Range which cements the ties between the two friendly nations.

China and Nepal are close neighbours and true friends who trust each other. The bilateral relations between the two countries may be described as excellent and problem-free since time immemorial and such exchange of visits at the high level will help to enhance friendship and cooperation in all fields. Both at the official and the people’s level the friendly ties between two neighbouring countries are strong and cordial. Hence both the countries have carried out fruitful cooperation in many wide areas.

The Chinese aided projects have served as the basic infrastructure of development which have made due contribution to the economic and social development of Nepal. Some of the projects accomplished under Chinese assistance in Nepal include the 114 km long Arniko Highway stretching right from Kathmandu to Kodari, the Prithvi Highway, the Kathmandu-Bhaktapur Road, the Mugling-Narayanghat Road, the Majhuwa-Khaireni-Gorkha Road, the Kathmandu Ring Road, Kathmandu-Bhaktapur Trolley Bus System, Pokhara-Baglung Road and the Seti Bridge. The Chinese aided projects in the industrial sector are the Bansbari Shoe and Leather Factory, Harishiddhi Brick and Tile factory, Hetauda Textile Factory, Bhrikuti Paper Mill, Lumbini Sugar Mill and the Gorakh Kali Rubber Industry. In the water resources sector the Sunkoshi hydel plant, Pokhara Water Conservation and irrigation project and the Sunsari-Morang irrigation project are the major projects. Besides, the construction of B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, International Convention Centre at Baneshwor, the city Hall as well as the providing of scholarships for training Nepalese doctors and engineers at Chiense institutes of higher learning are some of the notable examples of Chinese aid and cooperation to our country.

China being a developing country, its foreign policy has always been directed towards the peace and prosperity of the Third World. She has made rapid progress in the field of economic development in the past two decades especially since she adopted an open door and reform policy in 1978. Thus China is emerging as one of the global economic powers due to her tremendous economic and industrial development. Especially in the poverty eradication campaign China has achieved unprecedented success. Economic development and poverty alleviation have stood as our prime concerns. In this context Nepal can learn and benefit a lot from the Chinese experience.

The Sino-Nepalese friendly and good neighbourly relations are based on five principles of peaceful coexistence which can serve as a model for relations between any two countries. The relations can be characterised by mutual respect and trust and friendly cooperation on the basis of which both the countries treat each other as equals. Nepal has been a consistent supporter of ‘one China policy’ regarding Tibet and Taiwan. This stand of Nepal is highly appreciated by the Chinese government. Moreover, Nepal has reiterated that she will never allow her soil to be used for any hostile activities against China.

The issues high on agenda for the Chinese Premier’s visit include construc-tion of Syabrubensi-Rasuwagadi highway, setting up of a hospital for civil employees, establishment of a polyte-chnic institute at Banepa and technical cooperation in agriculture sector as well as avoidance of dual tax system.

In the changing context Sino-Nepal relations should take into account factors like globalisation, information technology and the massive infrastructure development projects that China is undertaking with a view to integrate its western region, including the Tibet Autonomous Region in the economic development process. China is constructing a broad gauge railway linking Lhasa and Gormo in its North-West province. The railway line will be 1,118 km long connecting Tibet with other parts of China. It will be the longest highland railway in the World. The multi-billion dollar project is expected to be completed in 2010. China is anxious to expedite progress in Tibet through this railway project.

The prospective railway line between Lhasa and Gormo would further extend up to Shanghai and it could provide good opportunity for Nepal to reach the far eastern sea-port that would help promote trade and other economic activities in Nepal’s most inaccessible areas adjoining Tibet.

Recently the Chinese government enlisted Nepal as one of its outbound destinations for Chinese tourists. It is certainly a goodwill gesture of the Chinese government towards Nepal. Through tourism Nepal’s trade deficit with China can be reduced to a great extent. But efforts should be geared towards attracting Chinese tourists.

China has acknowledged in principle to provide two additional border points in Kimathanka and Mustang for Nepal to transport food grains to its remote areas through Tibet.

Nepal-China Non-governmental cooperation was set up in both the countries in 1996 to boost the private sector’s participation in economic activities. If Chinese and Nepalese joint-venture projects come up, they would certainly contribute to the long-term and sustainable economic and social development of Nepal.

The recent official visit of the Chinese, Premier has brought the two neighbours a step closer and into building a fruitful relationship in the 21st century. The official visit has, thus, been successful to further consolidate the age-old friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

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