Future trend and perspective of Nepal-China relations

Yang Houlan

Chinese Ambassador, Nepal

China and Nepal are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. We share a common border of over 1400 kilometers and have historical ties in culture, trade and religion. Since China and Nepal established the diplomatic relations 57 years ago, no matter how the international and domestic situations change, our bilateral relations have always maintained healthy and steady growth, and become the model of relations between nations. When I look back and forward China-Nepal friendly cooperative relations, it always occur to me three phrases. That is mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual interaction. This is not only the foundation for the long-term healthy and smooth development of China-Nepal relations, but also the power to elevate the Comprehensive Partnership for Cooperation between our two nations in the future.

The first is the political mutual trust. Both sides are always based on the common strategic benefits, and committed to flourish the traditional friendship, continuously expanding the multi level exchanges among political parties, governments and social communities, to promote the political and strategic mutual trust.

China always respects Nepal’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respects Nepali people’s own choose of developing path. Nepal’s successive governments stick to One China Policy, understand and support China’s concerns and position on Tibet-related issues and other issues relating Chinese core benefit, never allow any force to conduct anti-China activities on Nepal’s territory. Continuously consolidating and developing China-Nepal Comprehensive Partnership for Cooperation has been our two nations’ constant strategic policy and is for the interest of our two peoples.

China unswervingly pursues a path of peaceful development. This path begins from our neighboring countries, goes through the neighboring countries and is benefit to them. China sticks to the policy of building good-neighborly relationships and partnerships with our neighbors and is committed to build a harmonious region featuring peace, safety, win-win cooperation and common prosperous (prosperity) with our neighbors. With the good will to the neighbors, China’s development is relied on the neighboring countries, and also infuses strong power into the development of neighbors.

At the present, the international situation is undergoing complicated and profound changes while Nepal is in the course of political and social transition. However, China-Nepal friendly cooperative relations have not been affected. This is because China-Nepal relations have solid political, social and civil foundation. China and Nepal are linked with each other by geography, close to each other by culture, and complementary to each other by economy. The exchanges and cooperation between China and Nepal have favorable conditions and big potentials.

I am happy to see that the development of China-Nepal relations has a very strong trend, with the frequent high level visits, and the deepened exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The Chinese side will continue to push forward the high level visits between the two countries, and strengthen the exchanges between governments and political parties, continuously strengthen the political and strategic mutual trust; push forward defense exchanges and law enforce cooperation, continuously promote and expand the win- Comprehensive Partnership for Cooperation.

The second is the economic mutual benefit. The development and prosperity of Nepal is in the interest of China and is also in favor of the common development of the region. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has been sincerely supporting the socioeconomic development of Nepal and undertaken over 100 projects including roads, bridges, hydropower stations, factories, hospitals, schools, and convention hall. China wishes to discuss with Nepal with a practical and open attitude to explore the new fields and means of cooperation, strongly push forward the win-win cooperation in various fields such as water resources, links and communications, tourism and agriculture, to realize common development.

Both China and Nepal are developing countries. We have a broad range of common responsibilities and interests in the international and regional affairs. Under the background of the deepening integration of regional and global economic, the cooperation between China, Nepal and the entire South Asian region is facing new opportunities. China will continue to strengthen the communication, coordination and cooperation with Nepal in the international and regional affairs, and make joint efforts with Nepal to build a harmonious region featuring lasting peace and common prosperity. We will continue to adhere to an independent foreign policy of peaceful development and the win-win strategy of opening up, work with neighboring countries including Nepal to construct and maintain a peaceful and safe regional environment.

The third is people’s mutual interactions. China-Nepal friendship has a long history, and it can be said to begin from people’s exchanges and interactions. The interactions between the two countries are passed generation to generation, and become a solid social foundation for our friendly cooperation. China has sent medical aid teams, volunteer teachers to Nepal and provided scholarship to the youth of Nepal. Since 1999, China has sent 7 groups of medical aid team to Nepal. In 2007, Confucius Institute set up in Katmandu University. 6

Confucius classrooms have also been set up and 8 groups of Chinese language volunteer teachers have come to Nepal successively. In 2009, two countries established youth visit mechanism, and youth delegations realized mutual visit. The exchanges in education, health, culture, media, tourism and other fields between our two sides have an obvious uprising trend, and the contact of the youth, women, and civil organizations becomes more and more frequent, which are playing important role to promoting exchanges and interactions between our two ancient civilizations.

During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Nepal early this year, the two state leaders declared this year as “Nepal- China Friendly Exchange Year 2012”. The Chinese side will make joint efforts with the Nepali side to implement the consensus reached by our state leaders, to push forward the friendly exchanges and interactions between the two peoples and consolidate the foundation of our friendly relations.

At last, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Nepal Council of World Affairs and all the friends here for your long-time support and dedication to China-Nepal friendship, and hope all of you will continue to play an active role in the deepening of China-Nepal Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation. Speech delivered by the Ambassador at Nepal Council of World Affairs, September 13, 2012. Text courtesy: NCWA.

Published in Telegraph Weekly September 26, 2012.

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Comments

Posted on - 2012-10-04 by David in London
would the ambasador be more specific as to what the future of Sino-nepl relations looks like? I did not get any big picture, so to speak, from this article except the usual general rhetoric. Pretty disappointing for an envoy in quest for a strategic relationship!