KATHMANDU: China is pushing ahead to see Nepal’s major leftist forces move forward together through its soft power .
Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s foreign affairs department, who is on a four-day visit to Nepal, is meeting leftist leaders and inquiring about their stances on such a leftist unity.
Met former prime ministers and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kama Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and leader Jhala Nath Khanal during his visit, Liu expressed CCP’s desire for left unity in Nepal.
In separate meetings with leaders of the CPN-Maoist Center, the UML and the Unified Socialist on Monday and Tuesday, Liu said China would be happy if there was unity among the leftist forces.
The Chinese leader, who is considered to be an expert in ‘silent diplomacy’, also mentioned that the issue of whether Nepal’s left parties agree to unite or not was still an internal matter of the parties.
During six-hour conversation at Oli’s residence in Balkot on Tuesday, Chinese leader Liu inquired about the prospects of unity among leftist forces as in the past.
He, however, said the Chinese Communist Party wished for balanced relations with all political parties in Nepal, including the Nepali Congress and the Communists.
A UML leader who attended the meeting today, said Liu also clarified China would not interfere in Nepal’s internal politics.
With parliamentary elections approaching in Nepal, China may be taking the initiative to unite Nepal’s leftist parties and Chinese leader Liu expressing CPC’s desire to see a larger alliance among left parties is seen as significant.
According to UML leaders, the talks between Oli and the Chinese leader focused on four issues.
According to him, firstly, the party relations between the CCP and the UML, secondly, the possibility of unity between the leftist parties in Nepal, thirdly, the bilateral relations between Nepal and China and fourthly, the growing American activism in Nepal.
On Tuesday itself, Liu also met with CP-US Chair Nepal and leader Khanal at Hotel Everest and suggested them to united with like-minded force.
“It’s a good thing that people with similar ideologies come together. China believes in unity. It is our belief that there is strength in unity,” CPN-US leader Jagannath Khatiwada quoting the Chinese leader, adding, “Our president, Xi Jinping, is also saying that unity is strong. China is united and strong now.”
The Chinese leader had a two-hour meeting with Maoist Chairman Prachanda at his residence in Khumaltar on Monday afternoon. After that, Dahal hosted a dinner for the Chinese leader at Hotel Soltee.
During the talks on both occasions, Chinese leader Liu expressed China’s desire for unity among Nepal’s leftist forces, a Maoist center leader said.
During the meeting, Prachanda told Liu that no external force would be allowed to use Nepali land against China. He conveyed the leader that he had worked hard to stop United States State Partnership Program (SPP) in Nepal.
Another Maoist leader who attended the meeting said, “Prachanda told Liu that he fought a big battle to stop the SPP.”
Prachanda himself also brought the issue of ratification of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement with the United States. He urged the Chinese leader not to have any doubts as the 12-point explanatory declaration along with the MSC agreement was approved by the parliament and the US Indo-Pacific strategy was rejected.
Chinese leader Liu said the United States was trying to encircle China by advancing the Indo-Pacific strategy. In this context, Liu welcomed Nepal’s decision not to participate in any military alliance.
Comment