Nepal and China marked 70 years of diplomatic relations at a symposium in Beijing this week, where speakers from both countries reflected on the evolution of bilateral ties and spoke about how cooperation can continue to deepen across political, economic, and cultural sectors.
The symposium, jointly organized by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing and the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), brought together diplomats, scholars, and policy experts to take stock of seven decades of engagement and to consider priorities for the years ahead. The discussions were shaped by reflection on how the relationship has been managed over time and how it may continue to evolve.
Opening the symposium, Roshan Khanal, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of Nepal in China, reflected on the long arc of Nepal–China relations, from early cultural and civilizational connections to their current status as a strategic partnership. She noted that the relationship has evolved steadily into a partnership for cooperation marked by “everlasting friendship for development and prosperity,” while also reaffirming Nepal's firm commitment to the One-China policy.
Several speakers placed Nepal–China relations within a longer historical frame, referring to trans-Himalayan trade routes and people-to-people exchanges that long predate formal diplomacy. At the same time, participants stressed that the modern bilateral relationship did not develop by default. Nepal’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1955 was described as a deliberate political choice, guided by geography and sovereignty rather than ideology, an approach that continues to strengthen engagement today.
As the conversations unfolded, familiar reference points resurfaced as working principles rather than abstractions. Speakers returned to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as a practical framework that has helped Nepal–China relations remain steady despite political change. Liu Qing, Vice President of CIIS, framed Panchasheel as the foundation that has given bilateral ties consistency and predictability, arguing that mutual respect and non-interference have sustained trust across decades.
High-level political visits emerged naturally in the discussion as markers of continuity. Several speakers pointed to 2019 as a milestone year, when Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari paid a state visit to China and Chinese President Xi Jinping later visited Nepal, elevating relations to a strategic partnership. Participants said these reciprocal state-visit exchanges strengthened political trust and institutional cooperation. Subsequent visits by former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in September 2023 and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in December 2024 signaled that the relationship has endured across different political cycles in Kathmandu.
Chinese speakers also pointed to recent engagement following Nepal’s political transition, noting Ambassador Chen Song’s meeting with appointed Prime Minister Sushila Karki as an indication of Beijing’s intent to maintain close communication and its expectation that the new government would continue to advance friendly and cooperative relations between Nepal and China.
Seventy years on, the strength of Nepal–China relations lies not only in past achievements, but in the ability to carry forward a tradition of trust and friendship, one that many participants expressed hope will endure and grow in the years and decades to come.
The discussions balance optimism with a clear-eyed assessment of realities. Zhang Shubin, Director of the Nepal Study Center at Hebei University of Economics and Business, spoke candidly about the gap between agreements and outcomes. Drawing on decades of engagement with Nepal, he argued that the challenge lies less in the absence of cooperation than in implementation, noting that even limited progress on existing commitments could significantly accelerate Nepal’s development.
Zhang placed these remarks within a broader development context. Referring to his research on China’s assistance to Nepal, he traced economic cooperation back to an aid agreement signed in 1956 and highlighted decades of grant-based support for infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, and post-disaster reconstruction. According to his findings, China provided more than USD 380 million in development assistance to Nepal between 2016 and 2021 and remains among Nepal’s major bilateral donors, with a focus on long-term development needs.
Economic cooperation and connectivity emerged as stabilizing forces throughout the discussions. Yang Chaoyue, Assistant Research Fellow at CIIS, described trade, investment, and cross-border connectivity as central to sustaining Nepal–China relations, arguing that economic engagement reinforces not only bilateral growth but broader political and social ties.
The symposium also drew attention toward tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Tang Qifang, Senior Research Fellow at CIIS, spoke about Nepal’s tourism potential and the need for more coordinated promotion in the Chinese market, pointing to the frequency of recent cultural and social exchanges as evidence of growing interaction. Dr Saroj Gautam, a researcher at the Nepal Studies Center of East China University of Technology, echoed this view, describing Nepal’s natural environment and peaceful image as assets for both tourism and investment.
Nepali participants added their own perspectives. Joining virtually, Dr Khadga Nath Adhikari of Nepal’s Policy Research Institute emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and investment frameworks.
Tribhuvan University Rector Dr. Khadga KC was also one of the key speakers where he reflected on the multi-sectoral expansion of Nepal–China relations and argued that the next phase should focus on translating ambition into consistent delivery.
A more reflective note came from Yang Xiaoping, Associate Researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. She described the Nepal–China partnership as “not accidental,” but shaped by geography, history, and sustained diplomatic choice. She acknowledged that cooperation unfolds amid broader geopolitical dynamics and Nepal’s internal governance realities, noting that addressing the expectations of younger generations would be important for shaping future collaboration.
Returning to a forward-looking note in her closing remarks, Khanal highlighted growing cooperation in trade, investment, energy, innovation, technology transfer, and people-to-people exchanges, expressing confidence that collaboration in these areas would continue to expand. She said the strength of Nepal–China relations lies in mutual respect and shared development goals.
Looking ahead, there was a shared confidence that continued political dialogue and practical cooperation can further deepen collaboration across sectors ranging from infrastructure and energy to trade, technology, and people-to-people exchange. Seventy years on, the strength of Nepal–China relations lies not only in past achievements, but in the ability to carry forward a tradition of trust and friendship, one that many participants expressed hope will endure and grow in the years and decades to come.
(Ms Baral holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.)
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