Nepal-China relations remain one of the closest and oldest ones. Both of our countries have enjoyed an excellent bilateral relationship for ages.
Our bilateral relations are based on the strong foundations of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, age-old ties of friendship, close and good neighborliness, mutual cooperation and understanding, and appreciation of each other’s sensitivities. Nepal and China have, thus, remained close friends, good neighbors, and trusted partners over the years.
We have a long history of friendly, cordial, and cooperative relations with China based on mutual respect. The engagements between Nepal and China date back to the 3rd century when Chinese monk and scholar Fa Xian visited Nepal. Likewise, the Nepali monk and scholar Buddhabhadra visited China in the early 5th century. Until recently, our time-tested multi-dimensional relations have evolved to a newer height to the level of Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity.
Nepal continues to uphold the One China Principle and is committed not to allowing any activity that may be inimical to Chinese interests on its soil. In a similar vein, China has an abiding respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, stability, and national independence of Nepal.
The two countries appreciate each other’s interests, concerns, and sensitivities. We have seen that our relations have progressed steadily over the years with frequent high-level visits from both sides.
I am happy to note that both our countries witnessed two highest-level visits between our two countries. The then President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari paid a state visit to the People's Republic of China in April-May 2019. Similarly, Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China paid an official visit to Nepal in October 2019.
The continuous exchange of high-level visits between Nepal and China has generated new momentum for strengthening our bilateral ties, increased and paved the way for our relations to greater heights, and contributed to further expanding the areas of cooperation.
Nepal attaches great importance to its relations with China. We wish to see these relations grow from strength to strength. China has made big strides in its socio-economic development over the last five decades and so has its international standing. Notwithstanding these achievements made by China over the years, the Nepal-China relationship has remained a model of relations between the friendly and neighboring countries. It exemplifies how two friendly countries can continue to maintain good neighborly relations for their mutual interests.
The Government and people of Nepal remain grateful to China and the Chinese people for their continued support of Nepal’s development endeavors. Our two countries have, indeed, come a long way in expanding and deepening economic cooperation and collaboration.
The reopening of all the traditional trading border points between Nepal and China has not only further elevated our exemplary bilateral relations but also become an important milestone to make the daily lives of the bordering peoples easier and more comfortable together with facilitating cross-border trade and fostering economic ties.
As connectivity is the key enabler for socio-economic development, we underline the imperative for building cross-border connectivity through railways, roads, transmission lines, info ways, and airways. Early realization of the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network will herald a new era of advanced connectivity between our two countries.
Nepal will graduate from the category of the Least Developed Country by 2026. We are grateful to China for its continued support toward our economic development and we are confident that such support will continue and grow in the days ahead through financial and technical assistance, technology transfer as well as increased levels of FDI.
(Mr. Rai is Senior Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal's Former Permanent Representative to the UN Headquarters in New York, and Former Nepali Ambassador to South Africa. This article is prepared based on his speech in a seminar organized jointly by Beijing-based ThinkTank Charhar Institute and Nepal-China Cultural and Educational Council in Kathmandu on 5 August.)
