Nepal-China relations: Ever nurturing an exemplary friendship

Jhala Nath Khanal

Chairman, UML Party, Nepal

The People’s Republic China is celebrating its 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China. (Article penned by the author in 2009). On this auspicious occasion, I would like to extend my heartiest congratulation on behalf of the people of Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist and Leninist), and myself. The celebration reminds all of us the day in 1949 on which the people of China had, under the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and many others, triumphantly succeeded in liberating the country from Imperialism, obtain the unification of the Chinese nation, establish and effective political of the people, achieve the order and stability, and generate hope of the people for a new world in which they would be able to rule by themselves. The success of the Chinese revolution brought a momentum across the world for liberation from colonialism, feudalism and foreign occupation. In South East Asia, it heralded an era of liberation. In Nepal, the historic revolution of the Chinese people inspired to build a vibrant communist movement against monarchical feudal regime and rescue the people from its dictatorship and misrule. Today, the communist polity is strongly grounded as a leading political actor under the leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist). The celebration of the day in China every year has a special significance for the people of Nepal as China and Nepal have nurtured a historic relation spanning a period of twenty five hundred years. The people of both countries in this long history have benefited by learning from each other. Moreover, each other has contributed to the development of their respective cultures, intelligentsia and mutual trust. Even today, the relation between the two countries stands as an exemplary one. The non-interference policy of China has made us confident of our security and non-violability of the territorial integrity. Its support in our infrastructure building and economic development is worth remembering. Hence, the Nepalese people, at the juncture of 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, feel proud of taking a privilege to reiterate the felicitation to the remarkable achievements of the Chinese people and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

We have observed very closely the process of development in China as the closest neighbor. The achievements made by it in the fields of agriculture, industry, science and technology and military capability are tremendous, and they have visibly paved the way for China’s emergence as an important power in Asia and across the world. The achievements prove that the policy of four modernizations taken by the Communist Party of China and people’s Government was absolutely correct and praiseworthy. Obviously, the pattern or the modules of the development in China are inspiring the entire world today. Especially, the growth rate of the Chinese economy over the last three decades has been a powerful stimulus for people across the world to inspire thinking of new approaches with a belief that there is nothing which is impossible to achieve in the realm of scientific and technological modernization and economic and social transformation of a nation. The Chinese economy today has emerged as one of the most vibrant economies which categorically combine characters of marketplace investment, quality production, and distribution of goods worldwide with continuation of the socialist values and practices as well as the preservation of the Chinese traditions. Moreover, the success in the triumph of science of technology, the achievement of mass consumerism and near universality of basic education and literacy has gone parallel too. Indeed, the People’s Republic of China has created an example in the field of safety and security of the people, human decency and satisfaction of the essential economic and social needs such as meaningful work, vocational skills and education and adequate health care. Importantly, the People’s Republic of China has also proved that Marxism is valid even now and can serve as an effective instrument to boost up the developing countries’ economy and well-being of the people. These successes cumulatively exhibit that the path chosen by the Communist Party of China and the Government in order to modernize China was correct without any doubt.

A glimpse of the 60 years’ history of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China demonstrates an untiring commitment of the Chinese Communist Party and the Government to the scientific and technological modernization of the nation and economic and social transformation of the lives of the people. The existing reality today proves the prudence, intellect and capability of the leadership. With all twists and turns in the international politics and breakdown of the Soviet Union and East Europe, the Chinese Government has been able to maintain its consistent policies of economic and social development, science and technology and modernization of the lifestyle of the people based on socialist orientation. Most importantly, the Communist Party of China has, unlike communist parties in the Soviet Union and East Europe, been able to legitimize its role and significance in the eyes of the people through the mobilization of mass support for socialism and national development efforts. While doing so, it has been able to pay attention to the traditional Chinese values. Undoubtedly, the Chinese Communist Party has been able to appeal to popular aspiration: the Chinese nationalism; removal of the foreign influence; security, stability and order of the Chinese nation; the four modernizations; and unification of the nation. These popular aspirations help the Chinese nation stand united and committed. As we understand, the success it has been able to garner the support of the people is pivotal for making the nation united on the policy of “One China”.

On the other hand, all these successes in our opinion can be attributed to the ‘Open Door Policy’ adopted since 1978. We have seen that the ‘Open Door Policy’ since its inception under the able leadership of Deng Xiaoping has tremendously contributed to the modernization of the Chinese nation encompassing all fields- economic growth, social development, and political reforms. They have brought changes not only in basic sectors of the Chinese society but also served as a major stimulus to big changes in China as well as across Asia and the entire world. These developments in China have also benefited the world communist movement as they have learned to replace ‘dogmatism’ by pragmatism. These developments in China have also evoked an unprecedented fascination with China’s new image. The historic success in organizing the Olympic Games in the recent past has added to the emerging positive image of China in the world. The role today China is playing in international relations and protection of humanity in the globe is also viewed as an example. All these factors have enormously contributed to the emergence of China as an important power in international politics, which is considered necessary to prevent the rise of unipolar domination of the Western developed countries.

In Asia, the role of the Chinese economy and foreign policy is obviously paramount. The growing economic interdependence of China and Asian neighbors in both investment and trade is gradually increasing and proves potentiality of transforming Asia into a continent of prosperity and a livable place in the most cherished way. In this perspective, the long lasting tensions in Asia are fading away. We have seen that the process of easing tension on the Korean peninsula is progressing and China’s role in it is crucial. We have also seen that China and Taiwan are coming closer as relations in the region are rapidly improving. Relations between China and ASEAN are also becoming consolidated rapidly. Regarding South Asia, the Chinese policies are views as comfortable and stable as ever and are constructive in getting rid of regional problems. It is believed that, with its constructive engagement policy, China’s role can be of crucial importance in order to ease tensions and instability and make the region economically prosperous and technologically advanced. In this context, we have a stronger belief that China could play a crucial role in promoting stability and order in the region. While China has persistently played a noninterference friendly approach in the past, it is hoped that the policy would continue in the days to come. Its past approach is instrumental in maintaining friendly and non-problematic relations with all South Asian countries, including India. Yet, the, Sino-South Asian relations need to be boosted up by furthermore of constructive engagement in regional cooperation by enhancing the prospect of mutual investment and trade.

Nepal and China are ever nurturing an exemplary amicable and trusted friendship prior to and also in the aftermath of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Nepal has consistently been supported by China, and Nepal has consistently followed the ‘one China policy’. Nepal in the past has also consistently respected the security concerns of China over, and the non-violability of, the peace and order in the Autonomous Region of Tibet. Nepal has carefully dealt with the situation of the Tibetan refugees so that they are not able to create problems in Tibet by using Nepalese territory. In the past, Nepal has fought a dreadful war with Tibetan dissidents and have suffered the loss of lives of the Nepalese people. This sacrifice of the Nepalese people to the territorial integrity of China shows the example of the commitment on the part of Nepal to China. Today, Nepal is facing an extended transition accompanied by a host of problems, including its security and territorial integrity. In the context of decade long insurgency and massive political changes, the society has faced tremendous breakdowns and economic problems. Our economy is stranded and the life of people has become extremely difficult. We are engaged in framing out of the structure of new Nepal through crafting a new and inclusive Constitution. At this juncture, it is reasonable in our part to expect added support and assistance from China. We have seen many more sectors of mutual investments and areas of support in the field of science and technology and economic development of Nepal. We believe that the massive economic development and prosperity of China will be a boon for the Nepalese economy too. Hence, we wish greater success to China and happy and prosperous relations between Nepal and China in the days to come.

Text courtesy: Journal of Nepal-China Friendship published in 2009. Posted in the larger interest of those who wish to understand Nepal-China relations in its true perspective: Ed.

Post your Comment here

TERMS OF USE:The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any persons) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).


  •         
  •          





  •  
I agree
Related News