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Are Nepal-China relations thawing? Recent events suggest so. Along with back-to-back visits by senior Chinese leaders, bilateral engagements between the two countries have also increased. Only last week, the two sides agreed to revive the mechanisms related to boundary management, and there was an understanding to remove obstacles to trade in vital Nepal-China border points. In this context, Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx talks to Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, Nepal’s new ambassador to Beijing. 

What will be your priorities as the Nepali envoy to China? 

Nepal and China have shared a cordial and cooperative relationship since time immemorial. I want to elevate this relationship to a new level and for that building an environment of trust is a must, which is my top priority. Nepal has some expectations from China and vice-versa. So, we have to chalk out a concrete program. The immediate priority is to ensure the return of Nepali students to China, and the process has already begun. There are also some pending issues related to trade and transit. For its socio-economic transformation, Nepal has high expectations from China. But Nepal first has to inform China about its needs and situation, and that is my job as an ambassador. My priority is also to increase the feeling of brotherhood between the citizens of the two countries. 

What is your view on pushing forward with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?

Nepal obviously wants progress on the BRI, which it has supported since its inception in 2013. The BRI’s key thrust is to forge collaboration between countries. Nepal has to request China for more assistance under the initiative. There have been long and intensive discussions between the two sides on how to move ahead with the BRI, but there is still a lack of coherent understanding among the people and the political parties. Even though no Nepali political party is negative about the initiative, its implementation has been very slow. There is also a flawed understanding of the BRI. Some see it as purely a grant assistance, while others view it as a debt burden. Both these understandings are wrong. If China gives us grants, it is a good thing. However, the BRI is not completely about grant assistance. It is as much about mutual cooperation and contribution. 

China has been insisting on quick implementation of past agreements with Nepal. What will you do about it? 

It is my duty as an ambassador to see to it that those agreements are implemented. We signed the Transit and Transport agreement in 2016. Some of its provisions are already in the implementation phase. I will focus on honoring the remaining clauses of the agreement, as well as other agreements between Nepal and China. 

You reportedly told our parliamentary committee that you wanted to invite China as a full member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Is that true? 

Currently, China is an observer member of the SAARC. What I meant was China’s role in the regional body should be enhanced. SAARC member countries should try to take advantage of China’s massive economic development. But the media distorted the remark I made before the parliamentary committee. I did not talk about making China a SAARC member country. I rather talked about maximizing the benefits for South Asia by engaging more with China.  

Any particular plans to kick off your tenure in China?

The government has entrusted me with a huge responsibility. I will definitely add a brick or two to the edifice of bilateral relations. I will put Nepal’s interest at the center of any engagements with China. There are several issues between the two countries that need to be addressed. China is an economic powerhouse and we need to take advantage of that. After I present my credentials, I will work on preparing a list of my priorities and tackling them systematically.

Xiaomi has been maintaining its position as the top smartphone company in Nepal for seven quarters in a row. Along with Redmi Note 11 being the most shipped smartphone in Nepal, Redmi 10 Prime 2022 and Redmi 9A have successfully positioned themselves in the top three spots of four most shipped smartphones in the first quarter of 2022. With their success, the Pro flagship model of these devices has also been released in Nepal. In this context, ApEx speaks to Amit Kumar Panda, Xiaomi’s country general manager.

How do you feel about Xiaomi’s success in Nepal within a short time?

At Xiaomi, our mission is to let everyone enjoy a better life through innovative technology. We are focused on bringing the best-in-class technology at honest prices. We believe this philosophy has resonated very well with Mi consumers in Nepal and has resulted in the rapid growth of our brand in the market. We climbed to the top spot in the market in the first quarter of 2020 and we are still the top brand as of today. We are thankful to our consumers in Nepal. It has been an amazing journey to date. 

Xiaomi 12X falls in the most affordable flagship category. Can you tell us more about this model?

Our flagship lineup has always brought cutting-edge innovation at the best value. Xiaomi 12X is another leap towards that promise. The Xiaomi 12X can be referred to as a true cinematography and entertainment powerhouse. It combines Qualcomm Snapdragon’s most efficient flagship processing power with a vivid AMOLED Dot Display, pro-grade 50MP cameras, and a 4500mAh battery, the highest density battery in Xiaomi’s history. And all of this power is housed in its premium iconic design at the most affordable price.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro features a WQHD+ resolution display. Is it practical in real life?

Definitely! With more than 68bn colors on the 419 PPI display, the WQHD+ display ensures details beyond the human eye. The display is a 6.28-inch AMOLED Dot Display rated A+ by DisplayMate. With HDR 10+ support, it features a 120Hz Adaptive Sync display giving life-like realism to your pictures and a smooth flicker-free phone browsing experience. Practicality at its best.

The Xiaomi 12 series is being promoted with the hashtag ‘MasterEveryScene’. What does that mean?

It simply means that the Xiaomi 12 series enables creative expression without limits by mastering every aspect of the smartphone experience. It is a master of design, exquisite and silky smooth to the touch, and lightweight to grip. With a triple array camera module, it empowers its owners to shoot like a master. It houses a massive 50MP main Sony IMX camera sensor accompanied by an ultra-wide-angle camera and a tele-macro camera, helping fans capture memories from any perspective. Xiaomi’s new AI Algorithm and imaging technology take it to the next level. Xiaomi Pro Focus brings motion tracking in an 8K algorithm allowing users to capture moving objects more clearly. 

Similarly, the Snapdragon processors are a master of performance, delivering faster speed than ever before. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor on the Xiaomi 12 boosts CPU performance by 20 percent and renders graphics 30 percent faster. The flagship Snapdragon 870 chip on the Xiaomi 12X, meanwhile, powers a smooth everyday usage. It also features vapor chamber liquid cooling helping the processor stay cool. The series also enables 67W fast charging with 50W wireless charging on the Xiaomi 12. 

In which particular area is the Xiaomi 12 series most suitable? Photography or any other key area?

As mentioned earlier, the Xiaomi 12 series masters every scene. The series is suitable for all customers wanting high power and performance in any area. Photographers and cinematographers can capture memories with cinema-grade videos and studio-quality pictures. Gamers can harness the power of the processors without worrying about power, speed, or cooling issues. The vivid display and immersive sound unit provide an exceptional entertainment experience. Productivity is at its smoothest. So, photography is certainly a key area where the all-new flagship Xiaomi series shines, but it is also a premium experience for the consumers who want everything in one.

What are Xiaomi’s focus areas in the Nepal market? How is it different from other markets?

Xiaomi has always been for consumers and tech enthusiasts. While being the top smartphone brand in Nepal, our focus area extends beyond the smartphone realm. Aiming to bring technological transformation to the lives of our users, Xiaomi has recently launched smartphone peripherals like the Redmi Smart Band Pro and Xiaomi Watch S1 Active and smart appliances, including Mi Home Security Camera 360 and Mi TVs.

We are highly encouraged by the love that we have received and from the enthusiasm towards adopting tech in lifestyles. Inspired by this growth, we have planned to launch many other products in the Xiaomi ecosystem soon.

On June 25, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Padma Bridge, a 6.15-km multipurpose bridge over the Padma River. The country’s largest-ever infrastructure project, completed at $3.5bn, was built with internal resources and is the new symbol of Bangla national pride. Australia’s Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC) Holdings had played the roles of consultants and overseers of the mega-project. Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx talked to Uma Maheswaran, chief operating officer of SMEC.

What is the significance of the Padma Bridge? 

The Padma Bridge is the largest and one of the most ambitious mega infrastructure projects in Bangladesh’s history. It establishes direct railroad connectivity across the mighty Padma River, enhancing the connectivity of southwestern cities. SMEC and our local subsidiary ACE played crucial roles in the Padma Bridge project from the design and feasibility stage to implementation.

SMEC and ACE were part of the design and feasibility study back in 2009. Since 2014, ACE along with a consortium of Korea Expressway Corporation have been supervising construction. The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project is a symbol of national pride for Bangladesh and SMEC-ACE is honored to be a part of this project.

How can it contribute to regional connectivity? 

Padma Bridge is part of Trans-Asian Railway Network, which will contribute to greater connectivity and trade among Asian countries. The bridge will also pave the way for creating a new route in the network.

What were the key challenges you faced while working on this project? 

The Covid-19 outbreak posed a huge challenge in execution and procurement. There were several technical challenges as well, including the high scour in the river. The construction of 3m-diameter steel tubular raking piles, which had to be up to 125 meters long, are the largest of their kind in the world, and the task was quite difficult. Special heavy hydraulic hammers had to be procured.

How was the fund managed? Who were the key financers? 

The Government of Bangladesh solely financed the project. The total project cost BDT 301,930 million ($3.5bn), with the state-owned Agrani Bank Limited providing the financial backup for bridge construction.

What lessons can other countries of South Asia learn from this, as they struggle with their own mega projects? 

There are several key stakeholders who work together on the single goal of making a mega-infrastructure project successful. Our client Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) played a significant role in managing all stakeholders effectively, and in addition, there was strong monitoring from the government’s Cabinet team led by the prime minister. Even during Covid-19 pandemic, the whole team stayed inside the project facility for two years without taking a leave. This kind of strong commitment of each individual involved is what it takes to make mega-projects like Padma Bridge a success.

Nepal formed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a transitional justice body to investigate war-era crimes and human rights abuses, in 2014. But there has since been little progress in transitional justice. Political leaders’ lack of the willingness to investigate war-time cases is one reason the commission has failed to work properly. Kamal Dev Bhattarai speaks with Ganesh Datta Bhatta, the commission chairperson.

Can you update us on the commission’s progress thus far? 

There is a perception that the commission hasn’t been able to deal with war-time cases. This isn’t true. Despite legal hurdles and resource-crunch, we have made good progress in investigating cases. So far, we have gotten around 64,000 complaints from conflict victims, and we have completed preliminary investigations in around 4,000 cases. Similarly, we have kept 3,000 cases on hold for lack of evidence. Putting cases on hold is not our priority, but our laws don’t permit us to go ahead without solid evidence to establish crime. Doing so is not easy. For that, there should be consensus among five commission members, and the complainants must be informed as well. If needed, we also have to listen to their views on our decision. We have also started detailed investigation of individual cases.  In total, we have to probe nine types of cases. Likewise, we have provided identity cards to 600 war victims; a court order has since halted the process. We have also recommended compensation for them.  

What hurdles are keeping the commission from working effectively? 

The first is lack of human resources to investigate cases. We have received 64,000 complaints and investigating each case is a long and time-consuming process that calls for skilled human resources as well as robust infrastructure. But we have hardly a dozen staff. Frequent transfer of commission employees is another problem. I am sorry to say there is no government support for us. The Covid-19 pandemic also affected our works for nearly two years. To expedite things, we have to set up offices in all seven provinces, and their numbers have to be increased in line with the volume of complaints. But the government and political parties are not being accountable to conflict victims. They fear if the commission is empowered, they could be summoned on war-era crimes and rights violations. 

Are there other issues hampering progress as well? 

Initially, we formulated ambitious laws and regulations, and took a process-loaded approach. It takes a long time to conclude a single case so we cannot produce an instant result. Similarly, successive governments failed to exercise the desired sensitivity while making appointments to the commission. People who have sound knowledge of laws and Nepal’s peace process should have been appointed, which didn’t happen. The misguided appointment process seriously hampered the commission’s work. Only capable people should be appointed in the commission. 

What about the Supreme Court’s order to amend the transitional justice act? 

The Supreme Court, international community and conflict victims are all demanding that the Enforced Disappearances Inquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2014 be amended at the earliest. But the political leadership has shown no interest in this. Without amending the laws, the commission cannot work effectively. There are also other issues that need to be addressed urgently. As the investigation process takes a long time, there should be an interim relief package for conflict victims. This gives the message that the state is positive about addressing their concerns. Similarly, the compensation sum of Rs 300,000 must be raised. 

How closely is the commission working with the Ministry of Law and Justice? 

It is unfortunate that seldom has the ministry cooperated with us. Whenever a new law minister is appointed, he or she doesn’t consult us. They get their information and feedback from bureaucrats. Incumbent Law Minister Govinda Bandi is trying to take a radical approach to transitional justice. The law minister and political leaders are saying that they want to complete the remaining tasks in six months to one year. Such statements don’t help. So, striking the right balance among the stakeholders is going to be difficult. The law minister is undermining the commission by giving an impression that it is the ministry’s task to take the transitional justice process to its logical end. He is bypassing the commission at every step. 

We at the commission still want to give him the benefit of the doubt when he says that he can conclude the transitional justice process within a year. But, realistically, the process will take another three to five years, and that too if the commission is fully empowered and allowed to work without a hitch.

“Take something as simple as being referred to as ‘sir’ in work emails. Our society expects only men to be in positions of power,”