70th Year of Nepal-China diplomatic ties: Benefitting from a rising China

Mahendra Subedi

Kathmandu, August 1: Today marks the 70th anniversary of Nepal-China formal diplomatic ties, symbolizinga longstanding friendship with undisputed history and promising future in social, political, economic and diplomatic milieus.

The formal diplomatic ties between Nepal and China was established in 1955 during the tenure of then Nepali Prime Minister Tanka Prasad Acharya, a tall political figure,who is less talked about among Nepal’s political communities despite his immense political and diplomatic contributions to uplift Nepal’s glory in the international arena. Acharya’s contributions to Nepal-China relations are equally noted since he is the first Nepali Prime Minister to visit China. The time of 1955 is equally important as that convened the First Bandung Conference, ‘discussing peace, the role of the third world in the Cold War, economic development, and decolonization’.It was a period when Nepal was looking for overseas cooperation and extend its outreach in the international level in the post-Rana regime period. The period also marks a transition following the end of Rana Regime in 2007 BS and before the start of Panchayat System in 2017 BS.

As stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the historic and multi-faceted relations between the two countries have evolved since the days of Nepali monk and scholar Buddhabhadra, Princess Bhrikuti and Araniko and early visits of Chinese monks and scholars like Mon Fa Xian, Monk Xuan Zang among others.

BRI and China in the global stage

China is a key global player for multilateralism, openness and cooperation irrespective of other countries’ political ideology; it is currently a global leader in renewable energy; it has led south-south cooperation; it is the number one trading partner of commodity goods to most of the countries in the world; and China is a major source of FDI, source country for tourists and an advocate of globalization. That’s why our collaboration with China is needed to take benefit from China’s rise in those areas. Nepal should prepare itself to benefit from China’s rise not only by receiving FDI and tourists but also by learning the ideas for innovation on IT, AI and other latest global achievements. Similarly, student exchanges, scholarship, visits of government and non-state officials to China are extremely high benefitting for thousands of Nepalis every year. Tourism is another area that Nepal can benefit immensely from China’s growth but there are some bottlenecks too. After the COVID-19, Nepal witnessed the decreasing trend of tourist arrival from China. However, the year 2024 welcomed impressive number of Chinese tourists. Nepal received more than 100,000 Chinese tourists in 2024 while more Chinese tourists are expected to visit this year because the Chinese government has announced to support Nepal’s tourism by announcing the Visit Nepal Year for 2025.

The BRI is a major flagship of China’s foreign policy and it is the fulcrum of Nepal-China relations too. Given China’s massive priority to the BRI and the BRI-related projects, any country in the world expecting Chinese assistance have redefined their developmental works through the lens of the BRI framework. Against this backdrop, it is good that Nepal and China have agreed to advance the BRI projects through the signing of the BRI implementation framework. Through BRI, Nepal should pitch for higher level of business and trade cooperation with enhanced socioeconomic connectivity with China. This shall ensure win-win cooperation for both Nepal and China.Fortunately, 10 different projects under the BRI are expected to be implemented in Nepal. The projects include Tokha-Chhahare Tunnel Road, Hilsa-Simkot Road Project, Kimathanka-Khandbari Road Project, Jilong-Kerung-Kathmandu Railway Project, Madan Bhandari University, China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park and others. With the finalization of projects to be carried out under the BRI cooperation, Nepal would benefit with enhanced road and railway connectivity and higher level of engagement on cultural, technological and educational areas.

Former ambassador of Nepal to China, Leelamani Paudyal, shares that the relations between Nepal and China have been marked by mutual trust and support, broader understanding of each other’s core interests, cooperation and respect. “The bilateral friendly ties have developed from strength to strength. Our cooperation with China is in the national interests because China has translated many impossible things into reality. Our new generation too can learn new ideas given their engagement with Chinese counterparts,” sinologist Paudyal added.

In words of foreign affairs scholar, Dr Saroj Gautam, Nepal and China share a unique and vital relationship as immediate neighbors, underpinned by centuries of unwavering peaceful coexistence and mutually respectful diplomacy. “Such historical bonds are rare in international relations. As global economic powerhouse and an internationally recognized model for rapid development and poverty alleviation, China offers Nepal opportunities for multi-dimensional partnership. For a nation situated in a strategically important location, a robust partnership with China provides the essential geopolitical counterweight needed to maintain genuine strategic autonomy, practice an effective neighborhood balancing policy, and ultimately safeguard Nepal’s constitutionally enshrined commitments to an independent and non-aligned foreign policy,” Dr Gautam argued.

Maintaining close and cooperative relation with China is, therefore, not merely beneficial, but a fundamental imperative for Nepal’s sovereignty, stability and prosperity, Dr Gautam observed.

Hence, Nepal should deepen its strong ties with China and other neighboring countries in the present world that has witnessed immense and unprecedented moves and mutability. For this, our politicians should be open to discuss the menus with our key priorities but the leaders should unlock their biases. Moreover, our ties with China are crucial to get maximum benefits from China’s miraculous achievements in poverty reduction, green economy, startups, entrepreneurship, rural economy revitalization, improved agricultural output and, most importantly, IT and AI, among others.

[The writer is senior editor at National News Agency (RSS) Nepal.]

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