Politicians are making a beeline to China. But what’s the catch?
Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav on Monday left for China for a week-long official visit. He is due to attend the Seventh China-South Asia Exposition and twenty-seventh China Kunming Import and Export Fair.
Vice President Yadav is also expected to hold some high-level talks with Chinese officials. This will be his first foreign visit after his election in March this year. He had expressed his wish to visit India first, but did not get an invitation from the southern neighbor.
China has increased its engagement with Nepal in recent days. There have been increased high-level visit exchanges between both countries, and these visits are not just limited at government-to-government level. Many visits have taken place at the party-to-party level as well.
Communist Party of China has sent several of its delegation to Nepal and correspondingly, various political parties of Nepal have received invitations from the CPC. The series of visit exchanges between government officials and political party representatives is a clear sign that China accords high priority to Nepal.
In meetings with Nepali officials, CPC leaders have said that they are willing to enhance cooperation and exchanges with Nepal in agriculture, poverty reduction and education to enrich the relationship between the two countries through subnational exchanges.
China stepped up its engagement with Nepali parliamentarians as well, mainly after the endorsement of America’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Earlier in June, Chairman of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina visited China where he held talks with his counterpart Zhao Leji and other high-level government officials. Likewise in July, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Indira Rana-led parliamentary team visited China to attend the Eco Forum Global Guiyang-2023.
Amid flurry of visits, preparations are also underway for Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to China in September. While Beijing has also extended an invite to President Ram Chandra Poudel, he is most likely to visit India first.
Regarding the possible agenda of Prime Minister Dahal’s upcoming China visit, he has already said that some vital agreements relating to power-trade agreements and bilateral projects would be signed. But some experts say despite Prime Minister Dahal’s plan to sign a power trade agreement with China, it is not feasible.
Ganesh Karki, chairman of Independent Power Producers’ Association, says after the construction of transmission lines, Nepal could be able to send a small amount of electricity to China, but Nepal’s main market is India.
Just like the transit and transport agreement, Dahal may have planned to give a symbolic message, but China cannot become a major market for power trade (see page 4 for detailed report). Of late, Chinese investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector is dwindling, while India has emerged as a dominant player. The Chinese side has been known to express displeasure with the Nepali officials over India’s dominance in Nepal’s energy sector.
For China, the implementation of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Nepal is the key priority area. But there is an unease in Nepal regarding the BRI after China listed Pokhara International Airport as part of the BRI. Nepali ministers have time and again dismissed the Chinese claim, saying that Nepal has yet to execute any project under the BRI.
Officials say the first priority of Prime Minister Dahal, while talking with Beijing officials, will be to seek China’s concrete position on the BRI.
Prime Minister Dahal has not spoken much about the BRI in recent days. Previously, he used to say that China should help construct at least one major project as a gift under the BRI.
Tanka Karki, former Nepali ambassador to China, says the prime minister’s imminent China visit should be focused on the implementation of past agreements signed between two countries including the BRI. If there are any problems regarding the implementation of the agreements, Dahal should communicate what those problems are.
The Chinese side has also been stressing the need of implementing the past agreements signed between the two countries during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Nepal visit. But the coalition partners are not on the same page when it comes to engaging with China.
Along with the BRI, China has also been urging Nepal to make commitments on the Global Security Initiative, Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). Experts say the prime minister and government officials should clearly communicate their concerns and positions on these latest initiatives of China, and not rush into signing new agreements.
There are a lot of agreements from which Nepal can take benefit, says Karki, but the focus should be on their implementation. He is of the view that there is no need of signing new agreements with China when the past agreements have not moved forward.
Upendra Gautam, general secretary of China Study Center, says Prime Minister Dahal must take China into confidence when it comes to securing Beijing’s core interests, including bilateral territorial security mechanisms for stable trade, transit, transport, agriculture and cultural connectivity.
Nepal’s longstanding and generally stable ties with China offers Prime Minister Dahal a rare historic opportunity to prove that he is not just a tool in the fractious South Asian politics dominated by India-China rivalry.
If the prime minister plays his cards right, he can steer Nepal toward the path of prosperity by establishing mutually cooperative and highly reciprocal relationships with immediate neighbors.
Nepal’s Ambassador to China Bishnu Pukar Shrestha says progress on rail and roadway connectivity are the key priority areas of Nepal which are the bedrock of boosting bilateral trade and investment.
During Prime Minister Dahal’s China visit, Shrestha says Nepal will request the Chinese side to expedite the China-funded development projects in Nepal.
He adds signing power trade agreements, increasing Chinese investment and resolving trade bottlenecks are also on the list of priorities.
Key points for PM Dahal’s China trip
- Projects under BRI
- Bringing Chinese investment
- Implementation of transit and transport agreement
- Connectivity (road and railway)
- Mutual legal assistance
- Power Trade agreement
- Border management
- Removing trade bottlenecks
- Resumption of joint military drill
- Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative
- Peace and friendship treaty
Congress to UML: End House deadlock
The Nepali Congress has called on the main opposition CPN-UML to put an end to the parliamentary deadlock.
Issuing a press statement, the NC said in light of the disasters caused by monsoon rains, it was crucial to address and discuss the matter in the Parliament. The party said it was irresponsible on the part of the UML to obstruct the House in a crisis situation.
Political stability is vital for the nation’s best interests, the party said in its statement, underscoring the need for effective efforts toward stability.
Earlier, a meeting of the NC resolved to initiate discussions with both the ruling parties and other political factions, including the main opposition, to break the current parliamentary impasse.
Additionally, the meeting expressed concerns about a 100-kg illegal consignment of gold making it through the Tribhuvan International Airport despite the presence of various government agencies at the airport. The party urged the government to take necessary measures to control such illicit activities and called for an impartial investigation. It expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police to probe the case.
The NC also urged the government to address budgetary shortcomings, rectify reduced capital expenditure and effectively implement the current fiscal year’s budget.
Magnesium and your health
“To know is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge,” Socrates.
These words from the 4th-century Greek philosopher Socrates sound paradoxical but still ring true. In plain language, this quote means: One should always keep an open mind to learn something new. Thus and so, it is worth a try to learn about our body metabolism and what works best to maintain the normal functioning of our organisms and delicate health.
Among seven macro-minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur, magnesium, too, stands indispensable to sustaining a healthy body. Surprising, as it is, your body needs all the above seven nutrients in larger quantities than micro-minerals like zinc and iron. So how does magnesium work?
Adequate magnesium supports and regulates our muscles and nerve function and produces energy in our bodies. It also conducts respectable levels of minerals in our bodies, such as calcium, potassium, and zinc. The heart, muscles, and kidneys all need magnesium to function smoothly. Among a horde of benefits of magnesium, some include:
- It invites healthy blood sugar regulation and supports restorative blood pressure levels.
- It improves insulin sensitivity and helps stabilize blood sugar levels in type-2 diabetics.
- It maintains blood pressure levels, bolstering overall cardiovascular health.
- It helps alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression
- It helps reduce headaches and migraine.
- It improves sleep disorders.
- It helps manage and prevent Alzheimer's disease in elders
- Produces protein in our bodies and sustains our DNA
- Nourishes heart muscle, kidneys and lowers the risk of stroke
- Strengthens our immune system and bone health
Low magnesium levels usually don’t show symptoms, but drastically low levels can hike the risk of elevated blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even osteoporosis. Further, low magnesium levels over time can lead to low calcium and potassium levels, which are equally essential for our body.
The recommended daily magnesium value requirement for our body fluctuates from 75mg per day for infants to 220mg for children and 240mg for youngsters, followed by a higher requirement of 400 to 420mg for adults and middle-aged to older people. Whoa! Doesn't that sound like a helluva lot of magnesium?
When we talk about magnesium, we assume we are dealing with supplements—pop up a pill and forget it; as simple as that.
Hang on! You have got it all wrong. No pills. You will be surprised to know we can get enough magnesium from our food sources. In the event of magnesium deficiency, which can lead to various health complications, a doctor may recommend magnesium supplements if a person cannot get his daily requirement from a regular diet.
Generally speaking, fiber-dense foods are good sources of magnesium. Let’s take a little time to browse the dietary sources of magnesium.
- Pumpkin seeds, 30g — 156mg
- Chia seeds, 30g — 111mg
- Almonds, 30g — 80mg
- Spinach, boiled, ½ cup — 78mg
- Cashews, 30g — 74mg
- Peanuts, ¼ cup — 63mg
- Soymilk, 1 cup — 61mg
- Rolled oats, cooked in unsalted water, 100g — 29mg
- Bread, whole wheat, two slices — 46mg
- Avocado, cubed, 1 cup — 44mg
- Rice, brown, cooked, ½ cup — 42mg
- Milk, 1 cup — 24mg
Source: www.healthdiet.gov.au
Besides, all kinds of green leafy vegetables, carrots, broccoli, bananas, peanut butter, yogurt, legumes, dark chocolates, fatty fish, chicken breasts, tofu, kidney beans, and potato also serve as a good source of magnesium; no need to sweat about an overdose of magnesium through food. Our metabolism gets rid of excess magnesium through urine. No kidding!
Magnesium deficiency issues are sporadic in healthy people; nevertheless, a prolonged poor diet can precipitate it, usually in older adults or those with an underlying illness such as type-2 diabetes, from digestive disorders or Crohn's and Celiac diseases.
Magnesium supplements may intervene if a person is on prescription medication, including antibiotics. It's always advisable to take the supplement, readily available over the counter, subject to a doctor’s recommendation.
Caveat: A high dose of magnesium from supplements can lead to gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, nausea, or cramps, and in severe cases, may result in kidney problems, low blood pressure, urine retention, depression, loss of the central nervous system, cardiac arrest and more than that, even death. Kidney-disorder patients should not take magnesium supplements unless their healthcare providers prescribe them.
To that end, let's tailgate the paradigm shift; try to tweak your daily meals to accommodate profuse magnesium-loaded food—no need to run after supplements.
“He who has health has hope and he who has hope has everything.” (Arabian proverb)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the above text are solely research-based, not medical advice; the author solicits readers’ discretion and cross-reference. Consult a doctor before going for supplements.
Go for gold-standard probe
Data indicate that India’s annual demand for gold stands at 1,400 tons, whereas imports amount to 900 tons. It is necessary to understand that 400-500 tons of gold is being sourced from Nepal.
Although the Department of Revenue Investigation asserted initially that it has the capability to handle an independent probe into the 100-kg gold smuggling case, the government later decided to involve police. This move has raised legitimate concerns.
A high-level committee can bring all suspects under investigation, whereas CIB may not be able to probe top government officials. So, it will be prudent to consider the CPN-UML’s demand for a high-level panel. Such a panel is necessary if we are to stop Nepal from becoming a smugglers’ haven.
Furthermore, the detention of our party leader in the wake of his demand for the resignation of the Home Minister and Finance Minister appears to be a retaliatory move.
The author is a senior Nepali Congress leader
