HM's China Visit
Promotion Of Bilateral Ties

By Sharachchandra Bhandary

HIS Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Shah Dev are paying a state visit to the People's Republic of China at the friendly invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin from taday (July 9).

The relations between Nepal and China, which share 1,415 kilometer long border, date back to ancient times. There have been frequent visits at popular levels for over 1500 years. Fashien, a Buddhist monk and scholar from China visited Lumbini in 406 AD in pursuit of knowledge and peace. The visit to Lumbini and Kathmandu by Xuan Zhang, a Chinese traveller in the seventh century and his Travelogue has been one of the main sources of Nepalese history of pre-medieval time. Princess Bhrikuti's marriage with King Srong Tsangampo of Tibet, was instrumental in enhancing Nepal-China relation and converting Tibet into a Buddhist state. Later, Arniko accompined by his followers visited Tibet and then to China to build monasteries and temples. The white pagoda, which still exists in Beijing is an immortal evidence and testimony of the antiquity of Nepal-China relations.

New Epoch

Nepal-China relations entered a new epoch after the establishment of formal diplomatic relations on August 1, 1955 initiated by the then foreign minister Dr. Dilliraman Regmi. The five principles of peaceful co-existence, which constitute the basis of peace and friendship, have nurtured our relations. Regular exchange of high level visits have played a vital role in further consolidating our mutually beneficial relations. The successful conclusion of boundary agreement in 1978, Chinese assistance in Nepal's economic and technical development and mutual cooperation in international fora including the United Nations have greatly increased mutual understanding leading to still closer cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Nepal has been consistently pursuing 'one China policy' and Nepal was the first group of countries to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Nepal had taken a leading role in sponsoring China's admission to the United Nations and other international agencies. At the Human Rights Commission Sessions, Nepal has consistently voted in favour of China.
China has appreciated the stand of His Majesty's government that Nepal will never allow her soil to be used for anti-China activities and that Nepal has recognised Tibet as an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China.

China has firmly supported the measures taken recently by the Nepalese government in containing terrorism and has provided moral and material support. It would be relevant to quote the saying of the Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Nepal about China's policy on Nepal, "As a cordial friend of Nepal, China is much concerned about the latest development of internal situation in the country. The Chinese government firmly supports His Majesty and His Majesty's government's efforts to restore peace and stability, and provides all assistance to Nepal within our capacity. China always adheres to the principle of respecting Nepal's sovereignty and independence, and non-interference in internal affairs. China is committed to be Nepal's good neighbour 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."

Nepal and China have, during the last few years, liberalised their economies and are engaged in a process aimed at achieving higher standards of living for their peoples. As a more developed economy with rich resource endowments and technical know-how, China is placed in a very advantageous position to extend economic and technical assistance to Nepal in her development endeavours. In recent years, China has been providing 76 crores Nepalese rupees per year to His Majesty's government.

China has impressed upon Nepal about the policy that the Chinese Government has adopted to encourage its viable enterprises to invest in friendly nations like Nepal.

Possibilities of developing bilateral cooperation through large-scale inducation of Chinese technology and capital in the form of joint ventures, do indeed, exist. Similarly, China has also shown its readiness to extend long-term soft loans to Nepal for her development projects through the Chinese commercial banks.

China has been assisting various development endeavours of Nepal. Since the very beginning of the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has been providing assistance in the fields of industrial development, health, road transport, education and building constructions.

The Arniko Highway, Kathmandu-Bhaktapur road, Prithivi Highway, Narayanghat-Mungling road, Kajwa-Gorkha and Pokhara-Baglung road built with the Chinese assistance stand as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.

China's assistance in the water resources development of the country is also remarkable. The Sunkoshi hydro electricity project and the multi-purpose Pokhara water conservation and irrigation project have been establisted with the Chinese assistance.

Since Nepal is the first South Asian country included by the Chinese government on its outbound tourist destination list in 2001, there is a great potential for Nepal to attract many Chinese tourists. In order to facilitate the prospective visitors in obtaining Nepalese visas, His Majesty's government is about to establish an Honorary Consulate in Shanghai for which the Chinese government has already agreed in principle and the necessary works are underway. Nepal and China signed an agreement recently making Chinese currency convertible into Nepalese rupees, which will help boost bilateral trade.

There are many areas of enhancing bilateral cooperation and they are expected to be covered during the visit of Their Majesties.

Impact

The first state visit of Their Majesties bear a great significance, and have an active and far-reaching impact on the Nepal-China relation and further promote bilateral ties in the new millennium.

The Honest And Frank Professor

By Shreedhar Khanal

AS a student I was very much impressed by the honesty and frankness of a professor. Then I was studying intermediate in arts in Tri-Chandra College. Professor T. P. Joshi was our Nepali teacher. One day he was explaining the story of Muna Madan written by great poet Laximi Prasad Devkota. While explaining one of its stanzas, the professor abruptly stopped. Then he asked for pardon and said that he was not able to explain the meaning of the stanza. He had not contemplated the intention of Devkota in writing those two lines that way. The students were astonished that the experienced professor of Nepali was unable to explain a few lines of Muna Madan. We regarded Muna Madan as the most simple poem. We thought the professor was making excuse for leaving the class earlier. We were also pleased that we got some leisure to enjoy.

That evening , in my home, I told my uncle how professor Joshi had cheated the class and he had left earlier. I unfolded the book Muna Madan and showed him the stanza which professor Joshi failed to explain. He read the lines and said they were very simple. However he said, it was very difficult to know 'what is implicit in a poem.' It seemed that my uncle felt sympathy for the professor. But I did not dare to mention it to him. I breathed deeply and got up. At that very moment Poet Devkota's voice was heard. He was calling my uncle from below. He occasionally came to spend time talking with his old friend i.e. my uncle. He entered the room and we greeted him. My uncle grinned amiable at him and sent me on an errand into market. The poet had a voracious appetite and I had to bring extra food for evening meal.

The old friends talked while taking meal and I waited throughout. They chatted about poetry, language, science, politics, psychology, economics etc. When the poet was about to leave, I related to him what Professor Joshi had told the class that day and asked him what was implicit in the referred stanzas of Muna Madan. He did not throw even a glance to the poem and burst out laughing until tears rolled down his face. It made me nervous and I looked at my uncle. He was broadly smiling with amusement. Poet Devkota smiled, put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Look my friend, Muna Madan was written by me more than two decades ago. I have already forgotten in what mood I had composed the stanza you are referring to.

How can I now explain to you the view that was implicit before two decades? The physical as well as social environment of Nepal and Tibet is totally changed. So, in the present context, it is beyond my capacity to explain the meaning of any poem written by myself twenty years ago. Even if I try to satisfy your curiosity, it will be a betrayal to you, to myself and to my poetry. In my opinion, it is better for you to ask this question to Professor Joshi tomorrow in the class and accept the answer provided by him."

Devkota got out of the room and my uncle patted my meaningfully nodding his head. Then I realised that the professor was honest as well as frank. He had not betrayed the class and he had not left earlier on a pretext. The author of Muna Madan looked more honest and frank denying to explain the meaning of his poem written more than two decades ago.