President Xi’s visit to Nepal

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Nepal on Saturday. His visit to Nepal is significant from bilateral, regional and global perspectives.

On December 4, 1996, Chinese President Jiang Zemin had visited Nepal on a two-day state visit. Xi’s visit, besides filling the gap, is expected to consolidate bilateral relationships taking it to a new height.

Bilateral perspectives

President Xi, the founder of modern Silk Road, launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is expected to provide Nepal an alternative seaport and dry port facilities to trade with third countries.

Nepal can be transformed into a land-linked country from a land-locked country. In this context, President Xi’s visit can be termed as a landmark in bilateral relationships.

China considers Nepalese dry port Gyrong as a gateway to South Asia. Railway linkage would bring the world’s two largest markets China and South Asia closer passing through the Nepalese territory. Thus two largest markets will interact for Asian prosperity with Nepal reaping the benefit of a transit country.

BRI financial institutions will provide soft loans to Nepal in infrastructure building and other BRI projects in Nepal. Similarly, AIIB and other Chinese banks are willing to extend soft loan facilities to BRI countries like Nepal.

China has common land borders with five South Asian countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Without better connectivity and mutual understanding and co-operation between China and South Asian countries, peace stability, and development are not possible in the South Asian region.

Nepalese first channel of interaction with China is China’s Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). Nepal has a 1,414 km long common border with TAR, China.

Nepal is the largest market in TAR. In 2018, more than half of TAR’s export came to Nepal. President Xi’s Nepal visit would help create a conducive atmosphere to promote further trade between Nepal and China’s TAR in the coming days.

Regional Perspectives

China has common land borders with five South Asian countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Without better connectivity and mutual understanding and co-operation between China and South Asian countries, peace stability, and development are not possible in the South Asian region.

China has links with other three SAARC countries — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives — through the 21^st century maritime Silk Road in the Indo Pacific region. Therefore, SAARC can be reactivated thus promoting relations between China and SAARC countries.

Nepal is one of the SAARC countries which proposed China’s admission to this regional body as a dialogue partner.

Geopolitically, Nepal is in between China and India. Nepal, therefore, needs to maintain a balanced relationship with both its neighbors. Trilateral co-operation is a necessity in this region.

President Xi, who is considered as a shrewd politician is also launching a series of Uhan dialogue with India which is expected to contribute to bringing closer regional co-operation between China and South Asia.

Global Perspective

Nepal has been adamant to its stance on the ‘One China policy’. It should be noted that the Nepalese Army had disarmed Khampa rebellions operating in Mustang District against China and its gang leader Gewangdi was killed and arms from his followers were seized.

The multi-dimensional relationship is flourishing. President Xi’s visit to Nepal will have a positive impact on the cause of regional and international peace, security and global inclusive development.

President Xi’s India and Nepal visit is expected to further consolidate the global multilateral trade mechanism. Moreover, Xi projects China as a civilization state and launches pragmatic soft power diplomacy.

Conclusion

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s Nepal visit on September 8 -10, 2019 has paved a favorable ground for President Xi’s upcoming visit to Nepal. During Wang’s visit, Nepal and China signed three co-operation agreements – construction of a hospital in Manang, five thousand tents provided for emergency relief works and Chinese language teaching in Nepal.

This visit is expected to expedite the implementation of various projects that Nepal and China have agreed in the past.

The multi-dimensional relationship is flourishing. President Xi’s visit to Nepal will have a positive impact on the cause of regional and international peace, security and global inclusive development.

(Shrestha is a former Ambassador)