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.
