BY THE EDITOR:
China has been using all its resources to befriend Asian countries, especially those of South Asia in order to isolate India which is gaining recognition as a progressive nation. It has been extending assistance, including Chinese professionals to these countries for quite some years. The latest is the China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is a very heavy investment and stretches along India’s northern borders high in the Himalayas along Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. China’s policy has bankrupted Sri Lanka which at present is seeking international assistance from world bodies for revival of its economy. It is also trying its level best to bring Bangladesh and Maldives under its influence by spreading anti –India propaganda. Nepal, which is strategically located between India and China with its population being Hindu – majority, is very high on China’s agenda as its resources are very limited.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda is trying his best to balance relations with the two giant neighbours while at the same time politically distancing himself from the pro – China Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist – Leninist ) headed by K.P.Oli after becoming Prime Minister in December last year. After visiting India and the United States (US) he next paid a visit to China recently on September 24 for a week – long visit. Prachanda directly flew to China from New York where he addressed the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). The following day China and Nepal signed 12 agreements including seven Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to enhance bilateral cooperation in sectors like trade, road connectivity, information technology, etc after Premier Li Qiang of China and Prime Minister Prachanda of Nepal held wide – ranging talks in Beijing. Earlier Prachanda met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hangzhou on the sidelines of the Asian Games being held in the eastern Chinese city. In his meeting with National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji they focused on further improving the historical ties between the two countries and promoting exchange of high – level visits.
The final statement issued after having held discussions for quite a number of days only referred to the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping but his two other doctrines – the Global Security Initiative (GSI) which advocates a common global security paradigm and the Global Cultural Initiative (GCI) which stresses on promotion of culture – were conspicuously missing. Prachanda justified his action by saying that GSI and GCI are not in the interest of Nepal as the country needs to maintain a strategic balance between India, China and the US and does not want to be under the umbrella of any side. However, Nepal reiterated its firm commitment on the one – China principle adding that Taiwan is part and parcel of China’s territory and that Nepal is against Taiwan independence.