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Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava has called on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. In the meeting, Deuba and Srivastava discussed the contemporary political situation including the election results.  

The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML appear to be heading towards a right-wing race to emerge as the first and the second largest party in the federal parliament (not necessarily in that order). Numbers streaming in from more than 140 constituencies point at such a scenario as the counting of votes after Nov 20 elections reach its midway.

The sideshow of this race is no less interesting, with the CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and the CPN (Unified Socialist) competing to become the third, fourth, and fifth largest parties. As of Nov 22 evening, NC has won two seats under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system and is leading in 50 seats, whereas UML has bagged two seats and is leading in 40 seats.

Trailing well behind, the Maoist party is leading in 15 constituencies, while the CPN (Unified Socialist) is leading in eight constituencies. Under Proportional Representation (PR), UML is in the first position, NC second, RSP third, whereas the Maoist is in a distant fourth position. In the Kathmandu valley, RSP is receiving more votes than major parties under PR, giving the latter more than what they had perhaps bargained for.

The new federal parliament will see new parties such as RSP, CK Raut-led Janamat Party, and Nagarik Unmukti Party led by Resham Chaudhary’s spouse Ranjita Shrestha. Nagarik Unmukti Party candidate Ganga Ram Chaudhary has won in Kailali-3, whereas Shrestha is leading in Kailali-1 and is expected to win. Resham Chaudhary is in jail in connection with the 2015 Tikapur incident in which nine people were killed in a violent clash.

This time, the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is likely to increase its strength in the parliament. The new party in the parliament means voices opposing the constitution will get louder in the coming days. But RPP is not the only political force that will make its presence felt in the parliament. RSP also has reservations about the current structures of the federal government and it made its reservations quite public by not fielding candidates for the provincial assembly. The RPP wants to scrap secularism and federal structures.

The Nagarik Unmukti Party and Raut’s party have their own positions on the constitution. So, it will be tough for the major political parties to manage those voices within the framework of the constitution.

If the preliminary count is anything to go by, the Maoist party is unlikely to perform well. Before the elections, the party had hoped to secure 50 seats combined in FPTP and PR, but preliminary counting does not indicate so. Top party candidates Pampha Bhushal (Lalitpur-3), Onsari Gharti Magar (Kathmandu-2), and Dev Gurung (Lamjung-1) are lagging behind in vote counts.

Maoist candidates from mid-western districts and Madhes are faring well in preliminary counting. It is almost certain that the Maoist's chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal will emerge victorious in the elections. If the Maoist party fails to win 40-50 seats, thereby emerging as a king-maker in power-sharing, a new scenario may emerge, which will affect government formation. The election result is likely to cause animosity between the NC and the Maoist party, with preliminary results showing that NC cadres did not vote for Maoist candidates in several constituencies.

And if the CPN (US) also does not fare well in the elections, the ruling coalition will find it harder to secure majority seats in the parliament. If the Maoist party's strength decreases, it may lose its bargaining power. In such a scenario, the chances of the NC and the UML coming together for government formation cannot be ruled out.

Just before the election, in an interview, UML chair KP Sharma Oli had hinted at this possibility. The chances of Oli becoming prime minister cannot be ruled out.

If the current coalition remains intact even after the election, Dahal is likely to become prime minister. Preliminary counting is indicating a more impractical and complex power-sharing deal. The incumbent, Sher Bahadur Deuba, would want to be re-elected prime minister on the ground that the NC became the largest party under his leadership (if this indeed happens). But Deuba is not the only candidate in the fray: Youth leader Gagan Kumar Thapa has made it clear that he will contest the race to become NC’s parliamentary party leader and then the PM.

The 67th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Nepal is a great occasion to highlight the friendly relations between the two countries, and this is also the right time to organize tourism and cultural activities and promotional events to strengthen cultural relations, Chhabindra Parajuli, economic minister with the Embassy of Nepal in China, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview. "Nepal has immense resources and a viable investment-friendly environment, so it could become a destination of choice for investors from China. In the context of the rapid pace of globalization and regionalism, Nepal and China can cooperate on various fronts," Parajuli noted. According to Parajuli, tourism could be a key area that both countries can partner in, as tourism has become one of the most powerful and largest industries in the global economy. "The industrial prospects and economic role of tourism in social, cultural and economic dynamics have increased. Ranging from culture to tourism, the industry has become the backbone of the national economy as well as the global economy. Recent technological advancements have made the tourism service trade more dynamic and vibrant. The tourism sector plays a vital role in transforming economic status, promoting industrial transformation and upgrading. Policies in relation to tourism also contribute to achieving a wider range of national, regional and global objectives, including sustainable development goals (SDGs)," he said. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal has increased rapidly in recent years. The economic minister also noted that tourism has become an important pillar of people-to-people relations between the two countries, which further promotes the development of bilateral ties, The Global Times reported. "From adventure treks under the shadows of the jaw-dropping Himalayas to the low-lands, and from an amazing amalgam of ethnic, language and cultural diversity to the roots of ancient civilization, Nepal has many things on offer for tourists. Therefore, I would like to ask all Chinese tourists to visit Nepal for a wonderful experience," he said. Historical bonds, business opportunities One of the first foreign travelers to Nepal was the Chinese traveler and philosopher Huen Tsang, who can also be seen as the first Chinese tourist to visit Nepal. The renowned Nepali architect Arniko travelled to China via China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Amiko designed and constructed temples with pagodas in various different places in China. One of them is the famous White Dagoba Temple in Beijing which is now a popular tourist site. "The White Dagoba Temple is a historical symbol of long-lasting Nepal-China friendship. The significance of this heritage is unparalleled. People of the two neighboring countries were travailing back and forth from this early period," Parajuli said. "Since Nepal has liberal investment and economic policies, Chinese investors should explore these opportunities by investing in the tourism industry. There are more opportunities in tourism sector investment activities for Chinese investors since Nepal is home to natural beauty, cultural diversity, high mountains and scenic lakes, diverse ethnic people and their cultures, year-round festivals and welcoming people," he added. "Nepal is waiting to welcome Chinese tourists as well as Chinese investors in tourism infrastructure development projects," the economic minster said, The Global Times reported. Parajuli explained that the tourism sector enjoys comparative advantages and has high potential for development, which can support the Nepali economy. Nepal is home to the world's highest mountain range, which includes eight of the world's 10 tallest mountains. It is also a magnet for the world's most avid mountaineers, rock climbers, trekkers, and adventure seekers. "The Constitution of Nepal incorporates policies for developing tourism as a key driver of the national economy by developing these places as tourist destinations. Since tourism has made a significant contribution toward achieving the goal of economic prosperity by enhancing employment opportunities, reducing poverty, and improving people's living standards, this sector can be seen as an attractive sector for foreign investment," he said. Parajuli told the Global Times that there are many opportunities in developing tourism infra-structure, such as hotels, restaurants, roads, airports, cable cars, children's parks, urban green parks and other facilities. "There are more opportunities for mountain tours and to develop new tourism destination points and also new tourism products and establishing marketing networks," he added. There is also great potential for expanding the market for meetings, international conferences and events (MICE). Plans to build a new international airport are already underway, which will also open new avenues for Chinese investment in the tourism industry. Local authorities are also seeking expansion of existing tourism products and introduction of new and innovative products with a view to attracting different types of tourists, according to the Global Times. As of mid-March of 2021, there are 27 international airlines operating in Nepal, which has bilateral air service agreements with 40 countries. Currently, Air China, China Southern Airlines, Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines are operating flights connecting Nepal with various cities in China. "China has a growing middle-class population and it is seeing a rapid expansion in tourism, so the flow of Chinese tourists to Nepal will increase," Parajuli said. The Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMO), International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) and China Adventure Association (CAA) are expected to work together with Nepal tourism related organizations and institutions to promote awareness of tourism opportunities in both countries. Nepal has also made arrangements to attract Chinese tourists. For instance, visas are available on arrival for Chinese travelers, with visa fees fully waived. Nepal and China have signed the Air Service Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Chinese yuan has been made convertible for tourists and business travelers, Global Times reported. "China is the fastest growing source market for Nepali tourism. I would like to ask all Chinese tourists to visit Nepal and have a chance to witness our natural beauty, culture and adventure," he said.

China has said that it will hold third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation next year to give a new boost to development and prosperity in Asia-Pacific and the wider world. Chinese President Xi Jinping made such statement while addressing the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Thailand. Xi called for building an Asia-Pacific of peace and stability, highlighting the critical importance of mutual respect, solidarity and cooperation, and consultation among all parties for the greatest denominator when something comes up, according to China Daily. Xi calls for promoting prosperity for all in Asia-Pacific. Xi stressed the need to make sure that development is for the people and by the people, and that its fruits are shared among the people, calling for efforts to promote prosperity for all in the Asia-Pacific.