RISHI DHAMALA: The year 2019 has been a year of detrimental tests for global leadership. Recently United States House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump with a crucial vote left to decide his fate by the Senate. President Xi Jinping of China has faced tremendous pressures from demonstrations in Hong Kong. Prime Minister of the largest democracy Narendra Modi has come under intense criticism for failing to control strong protests after the recent introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Just recently Vladimir Putin gave his annual marathon press conference one of the largest events in Russia. As CNN reported Putin was scrutinized for domestic issues which included problems of urban waste disposal, long lines at government clinics, and suggesting amending the Russian constitution to change provisions that limit Presidential terms.

The challenges that these respective leaders faced during the year tested their political and leadership skills. I look back today and try and evaluate the year 2019 that saw upheavals, challenges, and turning points in the vision of these world leaders. 2019 saw no less war waged in the Middle East yet there was hope that the situation would improve after restraint and maturity shown by global leaders. ISIS leader Abu Al Baghdadi was eliminated weakening ISIS the world’s worst terror organization. The year saw advancement in technology rising use of AI that has challenged the human workforce and employment. The world continues to shrink as people connect through various means on social media and the internet has now been the number one tool for connectivity and outreach.

Technology has advanced leading to leaps in innovation, financial dexterity and a world that is shrinking due to social media and the internet. This has led to significant monitoring on various aspects by the people, in general, all over the world of global leaders. Those who have the reigns in their hands and what they can do to guide the world forward as we look at a future of numerous possibilities and overcoming challenges in every nook and corner.

CHALLENGES OF NATIONALIST PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

Donald Trump who is up for reelection next year is one of the most challenging times of his Presidency. Trump is the 3rd President to be impeached by the House of Representatives (HoR) of the United States. The Senate will take a final vote, but this would be a crucial marker in his Presidency. Although up for reelection next year, it is a wait and watches scenario. Trump projected his global leadership by successfully eliminating the leader of ISIS.

President Trump compared to his predecessors had the lowest approval rating while in office after two years. Trump equaled Ronald Reagan his predecessor from the Republican Party with just 37%.   However, within the Republicans, he has a massive 88% approval which shows that if not impeached he would be up for reelection in 2020. A staunch nationalist with the slogan of “America First” he garnered support from all quarters.

PRESIDENT PUTIN THE ECONOMIC GAME CHANGER

Vladimir Putin the inviolable President of Russia won a clear majority being reelected back in 2018. On the other hand, Putin is facing one of the biggest challenges to incorporate the new generation of Russians who feel distanced. According to Gallup poll Putin’s approval rating had declined to a historic low of 31.7 % and just last month 50% of young Russians were keen on permanently migrating from Russia.

Leaving the polls aside, Putin has been a staunch nationalist taking sweeping reform measures in the financial and manufacturing sector that revived the Russian economy manifold. He was also dragged into the controversy over meddling with the US elections of 2016. Putin has been protectionist and largely revived Russia’s economy under the 3rd and 4th terms of his presidency.

GLOBAL MENDER PRESIDENT XI

President Xi Jinping is affectionately known as “Xi Dada”. A song on popular social media on the President translates “I am in your heart, and you are in mine. You love us people, and we love you deeply”. Such is the love and praise for President Xi in his country.

President Xi not only has won Nepali hearts by paying a visit here and honoring the spirit of the Nepal-China relations, he currently is closing in with Japan. Both China and Japan were historically at loggerheads but times seem to have changed.

President Xi has welcomed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing. On the occasion of the Japan PM’s visit President Xi has said “both nations should stick to the political consensus that China and Japan are cooperative partners but not a threat. In the spirit of turning competition into coordination, China and Japan will promote the continuous development in bilateral relations along the correct track” as also given in the South China Morning Post.

President Xi is known as a global leader known to mend ties and take China forward. He is also known as a staunch nationalist taking people’s aspirations with his slogan “Chinese Dream” forward. An increase in trade and socialist market economic reforms have been a hallmark of under his presidency. The Belt and Road Initiative has been well received in infrastructure development. Compared to global leaders President Xi has the highest approval rating within his country.

THE STURDY PM MODI

PM Narendra Modi the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat before becoming the Prime Minister is currently under scathing criticism. The Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Registry of Citizens have come under widespread criticism although there seem to be proponents that leave public opinion divided. One of the greatest impacts in his second term has been the successful conclusion of one of the longest disputes in the history of modern India the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Revoking Article 370 and Article 35 A of the Indian constitution and bringing in the Jammu and Kashmir reorganization Act, 2019 brought in more inclusiveness in the region. After being declared as union territories the security concern has lessened. Similarly, the Modi government has taken decisive steps for crime and violence against women setting up over 1023 fast track courts. While the GDP declined, India looks promising for a 5 trillion dollar economy by the year 2024, while a World Bank report has placed India as the 5th largest economy of the world ahead of the United Kingdom and France.

We look forward to 2020 with global leaders uniting to guide us toward economic transformation. The need of the hour is reconciliation, less competition, and more collaboration. If global leaders realize the potential of what unity can bring setting aside their internal national ambitions, the years ahead can be seen to be technologically thriving, with rapid expansion in infrastructure and an increase in the standard of living.

KATHMANDU, Oct 9: President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping is expected to arrive in Kathmandu on Sunday the 12th, and preparations are now underway to welcome him. The government is now putting in efforts to beautify the city, as well as maintain the roads that will be used during the meeting of the President of China.

Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had made the date public earlier today regarding the visit of China’s premier. There will be bilateral meetings where President Xi will meet both the Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli along with other Ministers and high ranking government officials.

The Nepal Communist Party is all set to take the Nepal China relations to a new level of friendship and cooperation, while the visit is said to be enormous and the expectations are high from both sides.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that the “agenda for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is being prepared, and further cooperation in the field of railways, tunnel roads, hydropower, and transmission lines are on the list of items to be discussed for cooperation.

The Kerung -Kathmandu railway project agreement will also take place as stated by the Foreign Minister during President Xi’s visit. Further plans and project details will be discussed and are being prepared by the respective Ministries accordingly.

A four-layered security system will be constantly on guard during President Xi’s visit, the first will be provided by the Nepal Army, the second line by the Nepal Police, third by the Armed Police Force and the final layer by the National Investigating Department.

The recently concluded fifth India-Nepal Joint Commission (JC) held in Kathmandu was a grand success. Both sides met and took a firm stance to take the bilateral relationship forward. Little is known about the person who would visit Nepal within three months of his swearing-in as the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. Subhramanyam Jaishankar. A life dedicated to Foreign Service and diplomacy, he has come out as an extremely powerful figure in contemporary Indian politics specializing in foreign policy.

Dr. Jaishankar started his career as a diplomat and he has visited and served in over a dozen countries.  An excellent orator Mr. Jaishankar has multi-linguistic skills fluent in seven languages. Diplomacy is his forte, he is tacit and has the ability to see through situations that have made him an integral part of India’s foreign policy affair representative. He has played a crucial role throughout India’s contemporary foreign administrative policies making his mark in all his given assignments.

The much recent spate of India abrogating article 370 and 35A that provided special provisions to the people of Kashmir was a bone of contention. It was a scenario not thought of by the normal mind that such steps would be taken aggressively. It was Dr. Jaishankar in charge of foreign affairs that India was largely successful in bringing about support for its internal administrative cause.

Similarly, Mr. Jaishankar won an enormous victory through continued diplomacy in enabling and ensuring justice to Kulbhusan Jadhav who was given the death penalty without due process of law by Pakistan Military Court earlier this year. In a resounding morale boost for India’s diplomacy, the International Court of Justice made a landmark decision to review Jadhav’s death sentence.

JC Meeting and its success.

The JC meeting was hailed as a success by both Nations, and it ended in a positive note providing new dawn of friendship and proximal relations between Nepal and India. This was one of the first few occasions where India was genuinely in concern for the development of Nepal without any strings attached. They also were flexible in dealing with their closest neighbor and were committed to actually wanting Nepal’s peace and progress. Several infrastructural projects were planned, and those that are near completion would soon be in the process of operation. India provided billions of rupees as reimbursement for the reconstruction of Nuwakot and Gorkha districts the main affected during the major Gorkha earthquake of 2015. Similarly, India has taken a keen interest in developing the hydropower potential of Nepal, along with roads and bridges in various parts of the country. India has also stated that it will help Nepal in the Tourism sector and will work closely in Nepal’s theme Visit Nepal 2020. These signs are extremely positive have done a great deal to repair the relationships and change the mindset of the Nepalese people that scrutinized India through a different lens.

It has been advantageous for Nepal. More areas of cooperation are sorting in education and technology. India –Nepal is now focusing on unity, partnership, brotherhood and development that will reach the grassroots. Both sides are serious regarding the recent spate of discussion caused by the incessant monsoons that inundated large parts of the Terai belonging to both the Nations. Throughout the meeting held by EAM Dr. Jaishankar, he was found to be principled, organized and very specific. The entire focus was to take India –Nepal relations to a greater height and that objective was fairly achieved while more discussions will take place in the future.

The Nepal- India Joint Commission has a long and unfolding history. During the 4^th meeting held in New Delhi back in 2016,  Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat and Mr. M.J.Akbar had presided over the affairs and a wide range of programs and policies were discussed that would embolden the relations between two nations. The areas included politics, security, economic cooperation, infrastructure, trade, transit, water resources, and power. These are core areas where both nations have taken a keen interest. The fifth meeting was bigger with bountiful exchanges and commitment for future cooperation.

Embracing, not looking back.

Irrespective of the ups and downs, we have a history of individual relations. We have treated each other as citizens of each side, and very rarely in the world do we see two nations crossing over to seek opportunities without much hassle. India is growing at a pace that will be enormously beneficial to Nepal in the years ahead. We have to remain positive and think about what is right for the future course for our coming generation. This time around it was India that came with a similar mindset as seen and represented by EAM Dr. Jaishankar. Nepal now must capitalize this opportunity for the development of her people without delay. It has received an opportunity that would have much-needed growth which would secure the future of the coming generations ahead. Embracing our oldest and closest neighbor is the need for the moment. It is certain that our bilateral relations now have tightened and there is a grip in place that would guide both the nations together.

KATHMANDU: The fifth India-Nepal joint commission meeting concluded in Hotel Yak and Yeti earlier this evening. It was chaired by Finance Minister Pradeep Gyawali and his Indian counterpart Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

It was also attended by both the Ambassadors representing the country, Mr. Manjeev Singh Puri for India, and Nilambar Acharya for Nepal, along with a host of other delegates. Bilateral relations were given importance and it was taken with seriousness and discussed in totality.

The following were the developments that see a positive approach to the bilateral relations between the two nations. More information will be provided in the coming hours when the detailed opinions and experience from the delegates are received.

Out of the total commitment of INR 5 billion rupees, INR 800 million rupees was handed over in the form of a cheque for developing road infrastructure in the Terai region of Nepal, there are other packages in the pipeline and will be ready for inauguration soon.

NPR 2.5 billion rupees given by the Government of India as reimbursement for the reconstruction of Nuwakot and Gorkha districts the main affected during the major Gorkha earthquake of 2015.

The Joint Commission will review all existing projects and treaties, but so far both sides were fairly satisfied with the developments. They are expected to provide a way forward with mutual consideration keeping in mind the proximity and relations of individuals of both nations.

The border areas will be upgraded and more infrastructural logistics will be provided in the areas.

The Commission has taken into serious account the situation of the disaster of the monsoons in low lying areas of the borders. There will be an action plan set up in order for preparedness and to avoid casualties in the future. The areas will be constantly monitored by a team which will include members from both nations.

The Joint Commission has observed the progress being made in various infrastructural projects. Postal Roads, Petroleum pipeline from Motihari-Amlekhgunj, and several other post-reconstruction works after the Gorkha earthquake.

India will cooperate and help Nepal in the Tourism sector keeping in mind Nepal’s mission for its program Visit Nepal Year 2020.

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) of Nepal and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. More partnership building in the future to come.

Nepal will be provided more air routes in the future, and India has taken this with seriousness although not final, there will be more discussions in place.

Both will work for the success of Visit Nepal Year 2020, Nepal tourism sector to benefit.

This will be followed by a dinner reception hosted by FM Pradeep Gyawali in honor of the delegates. EAM Dr. Jaishankar will meet the President of Nepal tomorrow before he departs. The fifth India-Nepal joint commission meeting has been a resounding success. Nepal should utilize the funds provided and have ongoing projects implemented without delay.