NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Friends In Need

Poor preparations left Nepal unable to take full benefit from the visit of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji

By KESHAB POUDEL

For the first time in 14 years, a Chinese premier paid an official visit to Nepal with such a big delegation, including the foreign, trade and transport ministers, but political leaders were unable to exploit the opportunity to gain benefits for Nepal.

King Birendra (center) with Premier Rongji (right) and PM Koirala (left) : Neighborly talk

Although Nepal and China signed some important agreements on trade, development and other issues, Nepal could not put additional requests with the Chinese.

The opening of the Syaphrubeshi-Rasuwagadhi road will provide an alternative transit point through Tibet, but there is a long way to go before it materializes. Both sides have to complete various stages of agreements before the final construction.

Had Nepalese politicians shown greater initiative for increased cooperation, the Chinese would have agreed to undertake many projects in Nepal. Political leaders withdrew some of the projects from their list following the instability sparked by the letter from the Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on the Lauda Air deal controversy.

After the letter of the CIAA, the government was shaken and preparations for the Zhu visit were totally disrupted for a couple days. Till the last minute of Chinese premier visit, his host was gripped in instability as nobody knew what further steps the CIAA would take.

Prime Minister Koirala was facing attacks from all quarters just a few months before the announcement of the schedule of Chinese premier's trip. The main opposition party took the issue of Koirala's resignation into the streets and the internal squabbling in the ruling party further weakened his position.

"The visit was successful as the leaders of two countries got an opportunity to share their views," said Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola. (See interview)

The amount of Chinese cooperation is very little but it is sufficient to make Nepal maintain economic independence. At a time when the number of Indian tourists are declining, the arrival of Chinese tourists may cover the gap.

Although the Chinese premier accepted the request of Nepalese side to build the Baglung-Jomsom-Mustang road, another alternative road to link Nepal with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, things will not be easy when it comes to executing the project.

King Birendra also granted audience to the Chinese Premier Zhu and had a quiet dinner with him. Apart from Prime Minister Koirala, the Chinese dignitary also met business leaders, providing an indication of where their interest is.

Premier Zhu met members of parliament and the leader of main opposition party. Although communist parties control four out of five municipalities of Kathmandu, no municipality organized a civic reception to the Chinese premier.

Diplomatic analysts saw this is as a unique gesture shown by the Chinese delegation about their views regarding the internal political situation in Nepal.

Another interesting feature of the visit was the lack of enthusiasm among local business houses to publish advertisements in local newspapers welcoming the Chinese leader.

The Chinese premier carefully avoided making any comment hurting Nepalese sentiments. "Even during the sightseeing trip to Patan, the Chinese premier keep a low profile," said a diplomat.

China and Nepal share stable relations in diverse spheres and have no major differences. Increasing the volume of trade with our northern neighbor would add a firm new dimension to bilateral ties.