Center for Social Inclusion and Federalism organized a seminar on BRI and Nepal-China Relations at Everest Hotel in Baneshwar, Kathmandu on Thursday.

Around 80 participants including diplomats, bureaucrats, journalists and reporters, and scholars of various fields took part in the event.

The seminar comes at an opportune time of the impending visit of State Councilor and Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi of the Peoples’ Republic of China.

Center for Social Inclusion and Federalism has been conducting numerous researches to understand Nepal-China cross-border relations, recent developments and its geopolitical implications.

In the course of the seminar, three major themes were discussed by three separate panels. 

The themes were BRI and Geopolitics: Risks and Opportunities, Nepal-China Cross-border Relations,

and Nepal-China Trade, Transit, and Transport, read a statement issued by the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism.

Ajaya Bhadra Khanal, Arpan Gelal, and Shraddha Ghimire presented their research findings on the topics respectively.

The first panel emphasized the impacts of ensuing great power rivalry on Nepal and viewed

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit from the same lens. Furthermore, the panel discussed

the contrasting models of diplomacy being practiced by Washington and Beijing and their averments towards one another regarding MCC and BRI, the statement read.

In the context of BRI, the panelist opined that the component of loan makes the BRI a complicated issue. Thus, the said issue may possibly reflect anxiety and caution in Nepal's negotiations with the Chinese side resulting in the delay in the implementation of the BRI project.

The panel particularly emphasized on the issue of Tibet as Nepal shares a border with Tibet, which is yet another contentious issue for China in its engagement with Nepal.

The second-panel discussion revolved around the topic of Nepal-China cross border relations. Panelists highlighted that there has been a lack of discussion on Nepal-China border issues, while most of the focus has been on the issues along the southern border.

The third session of the seminar dealt with the trade, transit and transportation relationship with

China. The presenter highlighted the TTA agreement between the two countries that was signed in

2016 which allowed Nepal for seaports and three land ports via China, the statement further read.

It has been more than five years since the agreement was signed but the pact has not been materialized yet.