HM’s visit to China to be significant: Envoy

Kathmandu, july 2 : The state visit His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is going to pay to China from July 9 to 15 at the kind invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin will bear great significance, and have an active and far reaching impact on the Sino-Nepal relations in the new century.

This is stated by Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Congyong in a message prior to His Majesty ‘s visit to China.

In the message, he said China and Nepal are cordial friends separated only by a strain of mountains, and the friendly interaction between the two countries can be dated back to time immemorial.

As far as 1,500 years ago , a Chinese senior monk Fa Xian came to Nepal to pay his homage, he said adding, in the middle of 7th century, another famous abbot Xuang Zang also visited this Himalayan country and left some precious records about Nepal in his renowned work" the travelogue of the tang dynasty and the western world".

Pointing out that the marriage between Nepali Princess Bhrikuti and then King of Tibet Song Zan Gan Bu, which happened over 1,000 years ago, has become an eyewitness of the friendly ties betwen our two countries, he said the White Pagoda in Beijing was built by the craftsman Arniko 7 centuries ago. The friendly interaction between our two countries in history has constituted solid foundations for our nowadays ties.

After the establishment of diplomatic relations, with joint cultivation and due attentions from the leaders of our two countries, the bilateral understanding and friendship have maintained a healthy momentum, the binary cooperation is increasing and the traditional friendship has gained much headway, he observed.

In 1996, Chinese President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to Nepal, and agreed with late King Birendra to develop good neighbourly partnership geared to the 21st century from generation to generation, he recalled and said mutual trust, mutual equality and sincere cooperation are the basic traits to describe our current relations and the reason why our two countries can enjoy rapport is that both of us value sincerity in fostering our friendly ties.

Our two coutnries do not have any intractable problems left by history, and what we only have are friendship, goodwill, understanding and cooperation. China and Nepal extend sympathy and support to each other in the international arena. Sino Nepal relations have become a paradigm for good neighborly relations based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence, he also observed.

The development of our bilateral relations is not only in the fundamental interest and common asperity of our two peoples, but is also conducive to peace and stability in the whole region, and the congenial political interaction between our two sides has provided a firm bedrock for bilateral economic cooperation, he said.

In recent years, economic cooperation has seen a rapid development, the bilateral trade volume is hovering in a relatively high level, and cooperation in the joint ventures, joint management and contracting projects enjoy fast progress, he said.

Last year, the two sides signed the memorandum of under standing (MOU) on tourism exchange, and Nepal becomes the destination for Chinese outbound tourists, which will bind our two peoples more closely. China-Nepal non-government cooperation forum, as a new platform for the bilateral economic cooperation since its establishment, has helped to enhance the mutual understanding between the business communities of our two countries as well as to play an active role to accelerate the bilateral trade cooperation. The "developing west " strategy adopted by the Chinese Government has furnished a promissing vista for economic cooperation between Chinese Tibet and Nepal, he said.

Chinese government will consistently encourage Chinese Companies with strong economic strength to participate in the development process in Nepal and seek a common prosperity with Nepal, he said.

Pointing out that as a cordial friend of Nepal, China is much concerned about the latest development of internal situation in the country, he said Chinese government firmly supports HM and HMG’s efforts to restore peace and stability, and provides all assistance to Nepal within its capacity.

China always adheres to the principle of respecting Nepal’s sovereignty and independence, and non interference in its internal affairs. China is committed to be Nepal’s good neighbor and good friend in the days to come, and will always support and help Nepal. Whatever changes may happen in the international and regional scenario, the above-said policies will remain intact, he further said.

Recalling the history, he said we will never forget that the current sino-Nepal relations are cultivated between His late Majesty King Mahendra, father of the present king, and then Chinese leaders, Chairman Mao and premier Zhou. The late King Birendra visited China ten times, and made tremendous contributions to consolidate and develop our friendly ties.

Expressing confidence that the coming state visit by His Majesty King Gyanendra will further enrich the contents of our friendly interactions, and promote our bilateral relations to a higher level in the new millennium, the Ambassador sincerely wished that His Majesty ‘s visit to china will be a grand success.

NC submits relevant documents to EC

Kathmandu, July 1 (RSS): The Nepali Congress submitted all necessary official documents and certificates needed for its legality before the Election Commission as demanded by the latter.

A delegation led by party vice president and minister Chiranjivi Wagle along with general secretary and Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka and central member Bimalendra Nidhi submitted the documents at the Commmission, today.

Talking to journalists after the submission, vice president Wagle said the Nepali Congress which has Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as the President is the authorised Nepali Congress party as per the Constitution of the Parliamentary Party and made it clear that the party deserves the election symbol of tree.

He said Deuba has been Prime Minister as a leader holding a majority of the parliamentary party of the Nepali Congress and there is a Constitutional provision that he will remain as leader of the party unless another decision is made and stressed that the congress party he leads should get the tree symbol.

The party cannot expel or suspend the Prime Minister as per the Constitution or the party statute, he said, adding that to remove him from the party is to separate the party from government and action taken in a spirit of vengeance has no rationale.

General secretary Khadka said he is confident that the election commission will make a justifiable and rational decision and that there will be no doubts about themselves receiving the party symbol of tree as their party is the legal and authorised one.

Party spokesman Homnath Dahal said Prime Minister Deuba was elected by members who were themselves elected with the tree symbol and his actions are from his status of leader of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party and hence the Nepali Congress party led by him will receive the symbol of tree.

Ten terrorists gunned down in fresh operations

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, July 2: Security forces killed ten Maoist terrorists in their fresh operations in Dadeldhura and Morang districts.

Six armed terrorists were killed in an encounter in Chipur Jungle of Dadeldhura and four terrorists named Prem Bahadur Magar, the so-called member of  a local committee, Hari Prasad Bhattarai (Pariwartan), Bir Bahadur Rai (Prakash), and Kedar Sharma (Kewal) in Aetabare, Morang.

The forces have recovered equipment, explosives, socket bombs, appliances used in electrical ambush and terrorists literatures.

Security Forces recovered large amounts of ornaments and cash the Maoist terrorists had looted from locals, banks and other financial institutions and from their own relatives.

In that connection, the forces captured Megnath Poudel, brother of  Devendra Poudel who is the so-called commander of western bureau "Kha" of  the terrorist group, with 55 tolas of gold. The gold was deposited as bank guarantee at Nepal Bank Limited, Pokhara Branch, for the sanction of loan for the construction purpose of Marsyandi Hydro-Power Project. Further investigation is being carried out, said a Defense Ministry release Tuesday.

In the meantime, a team of doctors treated 133 local people at free medical camps in Gorkha. The medical team of the security forces also distributed prescribed medicines to the needy locals.

‘PM has right to call polls’

Kathmandu, July 2 (RSS): Senior advocates pleading on behalf of the Prime Minister in the writ petition hearings against the dissolution of the House of Representatives at the special bench of the Supreme Court today said the Prime Minister has the right to call elections and sense public opinion if he feels difficulty in working.

Stating that no writs are filed against dissolutions of the House in Britain or India which are famous for their parliamentary democracy, they said the Prime Minister and Parliament are both large entities with rights in their own place.

Senior advocate Ganesh Raj Sharma, while giving continuity to yesterday’s pleadings, said the court should not be entangled in such a political case, and added that a decision should be reached by harmonising the decisions on dissolutions in 2051 B.S. and 2052 B.S., or a free decision should be given.

He said as the Prime Minister himself has to go to the polls, we cannot say that his recommendation is ill-intentioned, there were no hints that any accusation of corruption was to arise in the house and to regard the dissolution as ill-intentioned is merely political and not a matter to be looked into from a legal stance.

Sharma asked if the Prime Minister does not have the right to recommend a dissolution, who is to stop indiscipline, anarchy and anomalies.

Another senior advocate, Motikaji Sthapit, said we could have accused him of evading the house if a no -confidence motion had been in the offing, as a precedent has been established that the Prime Minister has to face the House if such a motion has been registered.

To say that an election cannot be held in an emergency and the term of the House can be extended upto a year is not a compelling argument , he said, adding that the government itself needs Parliament to make laws for alternative arrangements and its indispesability is something the government itself feels .

Advocate Yagyamurti Banjade and Lalit Bahadur Basnet will plead tomorrow on behalf of the Speaker, one of the defendents, and senior advocate Daman Nath Dhungana will speak for the amici curiae.

Upcoming state visit keenly awaited

Kathmandu, July 2 (RSS): The state visit of His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev to the People’s Republic of China next week will add a new dimension to the traditional friendship between Nepal and China, it is believed.

In the context of the forthcoming state visit of His Majesty to China, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to China Rajeshwar Acharya said in an interview to the National News Agency, RSS, here today that the government and the people of China have been awaiting the visit of His Majesty the King with keen interest.

Friendly ties between Nepal and China have been existing for centuries, there is no problem between the two countries and as this is the first visit to China after His Majesty’s accession to the throne last year to promote good neighbourliness and friendship, Chinese leaders have given special importance to it, Acharya said.

In response to a question, Ambassador Acharya said every head of state’s foreign visit has its own significance, His Majesty the King is known in China, and this is the sixth visit of His Majesty to China but as this is the first visit as head of state, it is natural that it has its own special importance.

Many changes have taken place in the world after September 11 and providing continuity to the fight against terrorism is the common concern of everyone, he said adding that in this context the visit will be important in providing continuity to the foreign policy of Nepal and its desire to take peace, stability, brotherhood, mutual confidence and understanding to the grassroots level.

Replying to another question, he said, "Nepal has been maintaining balanced ties with the neighbouring countries. Nepal has pursued the policy of one China. Nepal has not allowed its soil to be utilised against any country. As there is no difference between the words and deeds of Nepal, China does not have any big complaint against Nepal."

His Majesty ‘s visit will give the message to the world that even if there is a state of emergency and there are some problems in the country, the situation is well under control and Nepal is safe because if there is an abnormal situation in the country, a foreign visit by the head of state does not take place, he added.

The special and traditional characteristic of China’s diplomacy is not to intervene in and comment on the internal affairs of other countries and the Chinese leaders are of the view that an independent and self-respecting Nepal will be able to resolve its problems by itself, AmbassadorAcharya said.

Stating that the entourage of His Majesty will also include representatives of industrialists and traders who will have an opportunity to hold discussions with their Chinese counterparts, he said that during recent interviews granted to RSS and Nepal Television, His Majesty had stressed practical diplomacy and accordingly, the visit is of special importance in bilateral economic ties.

As Nepal is a new destination for Chinese tourists, the Chinese mass media will publicise the country widely during the visit of His Majesty , and we could benefit from it, the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) and the Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA) will also be organising programmes at various places in china in the near future and the television transmission company of China, CCTV, is also transmitting documentaries on Nepal, the Chinese currency has been made convertible in Nepal and therefore there are ample prospects of a rise in the number of Chinese tourists visiting in Nepal, the Ambassador said.

Disclosing that the process of establishment of an Honorary Consulate in Sanghai was in the final stages, he said that with a consulate tourism and various other economic activists would thrive.

With the opening of the railway service from Sanghai to Sigarche in Tibet over a distance of about 9,000 kilometres by the year 2006, the economic and cultural ties between the two countries are expected to deepen further, he added.

Stating that China is emerging as a political and economic power in the world and there have been warm and respectable relations between Nepal and China at the governmental as well as people’s level, Ambassador Acharya said that it is for the political leadership to formulate a plan for further consolidation of ties for the maximum benefit to the people of both countries.

On the possibility of the visit of senior Chinese leaders to Nepal after His Majesty ‘s visit, he said the Chinese leaders will be busy with the l6th congress of the Chinese Communist Party to be held towards the end of 2002. Any visit might take place only in 2003, and the process of exchange of high level visits will continue.

Destination Nepal to draw 500,000 visitors

Kathmandu, July 2 (RSS): Under the programme of observing 2002-2003 as Destination Nepal campaign for the sustainable development of tourism in the country, a target has been set to bring in 500,000 tourists and earn foreign exchange to the tune of US dollars 180 million.

This information was given at an interaction programme on "responsibility and role of concerned persons in the sustainable development and expansion of tourism in Nepal" organised by the secretariat of the Destination Nepal Campaign 2002-2003 and the Nepal Tourism Board.

The interaction programme was organised with the objective of establishing Nepal as an important and attractive destination for tourists and to raise awareness among the masses regarding tourism.

The programme was participated in by about 200 persons including chairmen and representatives of 17 district development committees of the central development region and representatives of the army, police and non-governmental organisations concerned with tourism.

At the programme, various participants laid stress on the need to develop historical, archaeological and religious places as tourism spots, identify new places and resolve the problems encountered in this sector.

The two-year Destination Nepal programme has been introduced to remove the recession in the tourism industry as a result of the hijacking of an Indian Airlines Plane in 1999, general strikes, concerns over the tourism sector and the terrorist attack in New York on September 11 last year.

The fifth meeting of the tourism council has decided to observe 2002 as Destination Nepal year to provide continuity to the influx of tourists.

Initiating the programme, joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Shankar Koirala said that the campaign launched in January 2002 with the objective of bringing in a maximum number of tourists will continue until December 2003.

Director of the Nepal Tourism Board, Tourism Heritage and Resources Development Division Subhash Niraula, facilitator of the interaction programme Manoj Bhattarai and Krishna Hari Baskota also expressed their views on the occasion.