Nepal should benefit from China's high-quality development: Experts

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Feb. 14: Experts have called for implementing scores of agreements and understandings reached between Nepal and China in the past. They shared their views at a China–Nepal Media and Think Tank Symposium themed “New Start, Shared Vision: Drawing a Joint Blueprint for China-Nepal Development" organised at the China Study Centre (CSC) here on Friday. They were of the view that Nepal should benefit from China's high-quality development, which is being shared with the world through greater openness.

Wang Shuo, Vice-President of CICG Centre for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publication), said that China and Nepal should deepen strategic alignment and jointly promote connectivity by continuing to facilitate customs clearance at border ports, improving cross-border road connectivity, and advancing cross-border power grid construction.

She noted that the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, which the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted in October, was not only about China's development but also a grand blueprint that would profoundly reshape the regional economic landscape and create new development opportunities for Global South countries, including Nepal. 

The Plan has stressed accelerating high-level technological self-reliance, expanding high-standard opening-up, and advancing the comprehensive green transition of economic and social development, she said, adding that these priorities offered new directions for Nepal in attracting investment and promoting infrastructure development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sundar Nath Bhattarai, officiating chairperson of the CSC, underlined the need for speedy implementation of projects agreed upon in the Trans Himalayan Multidimensional Network, which includes a cross-border railway, a dream project of Nepalis. "Nepal’s strict adherence to 'One-China Policy' was a principled stand, which is absolute and unequivocal." 

Former ambassador to China Lilamani Poudyal underlined the need for implementing the past agreements between the two countries by activating their bilateral mechanisms. CSC general secretary said that the enduring Nepal-China relationship, characterised by principles of peaceful coexistence, mutual non-interference and strategic partnership of cooperation, was a model of good neighbourliness. "Our cooperation under the multiple development initiatives is aimed solely at the socio-economic development and prosperity of our people." 

Prof. Ganga Prasad Upreti, former chancellor of Nepal Academy, and MP Lohani, advisor to CSC, also dwelt upon the dimensions of Nepal-China ties at the function attended by experts and media persons. Qiao Zhenqi, Director of New Media Operations and Bian Xiuhong, Event Coordinator of CICG Centre for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publication), also attended the interaction.