KATHMANDU, Sept 5: The third meeting of the officials of Nepal and China to give final shape to the protocol of the Nepal-China Transit and Transport Agreement is being held today.

The two-day meeting is expected to finalize the protocol to the Agreement. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Rabi Shanker Saiju is leading an 11-member Nepali delegation in the meeting.

Likewise, the nine-member Chinese side is led by Director General of the Department of Transport of China Wang Xiping.

Also taking part in the meeting are representatives of the Ministries of Industry, Commerce and Supplies as well as of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs ministries, and the Trade Promotion Centre and Nepal Inter-model Transportation Board, according to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. RSS

KATHMANDU, Aug 20: The government has begun a process to implement energy cooperation agreement held with the government of China in a bid to attract more foreign investment and expand hydropower market in the country.

So far, Nepal has signed such agreements with India and Bangladesh as well. The process was begun following the Sino-Nepal agreement reached on 14 different areas during the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent visit to China.

Bilateral agreements including railway construction in Nepal based on the trade and transit agreement, protocol concerning the utilization of highways in Tibet Autonomous Region of China by Nepal for cargo transport was signed on the occasion.

Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on investment and cooperation on production capacity between the National Development and Reforms Commission of China and National Planning Commission of Nepal was signed during the visit.

Likewise, an agreement between the two governments was signed on reconstruction of the Friendship Bridge in Tatopani of Sindhupalchok and Rasuwagadhi of Rasuwa.

Similarly, MoU was signed between the two countries on the establishment of a mechanism for facilitation on the implementation of China-Nepal Cooperation Programmes and Projects in Nepal.

In line with these agreements, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun has finalized the name to be represented from Nepal to the joint committee.

Energy secretary Anup Kumar Upadhyay has been nominated as the co-chair at the committee. There will be other seven members at the committee representing from electricity development department, Nepal Electricity Authority, and joint secretary from the Energy Ministry.

The committee meeting will be held in Kathmandu on September 27 and 28. The meeting will hold discussions on bilateral cooperation on energy sectors and progress on investment exchange in the areas among other issues.

The committee has been assigned to create environment conducive to welcome investment in the energy development from both government and private sectors.
Talking to RSS, Minister Pun said that the process has begun to form a joint committee and it will forward the process to implement the bilateral agreements in the energy development sectors.

Agreements with Bangladesh also towards implementation
Similarly, the process of formation of two committees in line with the agreements signed between Nepal and Bangladesh has been forwarded.

Minister for Energy Pun following the Cabinet meeting on Sunday had made the decisions and picked the representatives to be in the Secretary-led Joint Executive Committee and Joint Technical Committee led by Join-Secretary.

The MoU regarding the energy cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh provisions the formation of two committees, one led by Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and other Joint-Secretary of the same ministry.

Nepal and Bangladesh had inked an MoU on energy cooperation between the two countries on August 10. Minister Pun and Bangladeshi Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid had signed the MoU.

Nepal signing MoU on BIMSTEC grid interconnections
Likewise, the government has decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the establishment of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Economic and Technical Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grid interconnections. The decision to this effect was taken Sunday.

Nepal is expected to find an easier way to supply electricity generated here to India, Bangladesh and Myanmar once it signs the MoU.

Issues relating to the construction of transmission lines and their operations have been incorporated in the MoU. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, has been given an authority to sign the document on behalf of the government of Nepal.

The member states of BIMSTEC, a sub- regional body comprising seven members in South Asia and South East Asia dependent on the Bay of Bengal, are meeting on coming August 30-31 in Kathmandu for the fourth Summit. RSS

KATHMANDU: Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi arrived in Nepal’s capital on Monday leading 19-member delegation. The delegation will be in Nepal for two days during which it is stated to hold discussion with the Vice President Parmananda Jha, Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khilaraj Regmi, Foreign Minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire along with senior leaders from political parties.

Jeichi is the highest foreign leader to visit Nepal since the formation of the Regmi led government.

A meeting between FM Ghimire and Jeichi has been scheduled on Monday evening. Though no official comments have been made, it is believed that the delegations will center on the proposed Constituent Assembly elections, Chinese investments in Nepal’s infrastructure, and the Pro-Tibetan activities in Nepal among others.

Before heading home after completing their two day visit, the delegation is also scheduled to visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Nepal’s senior communist leader Puspa Kamal Dahal aka “Prachanda’ is flying to Beijing on Sunday on official invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping with a five member delegation.

Speaking to a select few journalist on the eve of his visit on Saturday, Prachanda said that his visit will aim to bring China and India together on developing Nepal. ” The trend of instigating one neighbor towards another should be stopped. Nepal can benefit from its both neighbors, only if we work closely with each other,” Prachanda said echoing the statement of his deputy Baburam Bhattarai.

Bhattarai had proposed that Nepal act as a bridge between both nations when the Chinese Prime Minister had visited Nepal last January.

Elaborating on his visit, Prachanda laid stress on the need to garner support from neighboring nations to hold Constituent Assembly elections and said that his visit will focus on garnering economic support from China.

“Discussions will be held on political issues, but politics are Nepal’s internal affairs. So, my visit will basically center on economic cooperation,” Prachanda said elaborating that extension of Chinese railway till Kathmandu, extension of ports between China and Nepal, transformation of Kathmandu into a metro city and development of herbs will highlight the discussion.

On the occasion, Prachanda clarified that he is visiting China as the Coordinator of the High Level Political Mechanism that presently governs the Interim Election Council and added that he represents the interests of all political parties and the government.

He said that the agenda of his meetings have been endorsed by major political party leaders and the interim cabinet.

In China Prachanda is scheduled to address a conference of Nepal and Chinese intellectuals in Chengdu on the first day and than head to Beijing where he will hold consultations with Chinese President, Prime Minister among other influential Chinese leaders.

After that Prachanda will visit Chinese industrial cities and than head to Hong Kong from where he will return back home.

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s politicians have always tried to balance their ties with both of its giant southern and northern neighbors but so far no one has succeeded, at least with tangible results. The erstwhile Maoist Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had also put a lot of efforts to visit China as officiating Prime Minister, but appointment with the Chinese President was available for him only in June. But, his party’s supremo, Puspa Kamal Dahal seems to be luckier than him. He is rumored to get the opportunity to hold dialogue with Xi Jinping.

A vernacular Nepali weekly news portal while confirming the report about Dahal’s, who is more famous for his war time name “Prachanda”, visit to China on April 14 claimed that the visit has been sponsored by the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu.

The visit is seen with importance due to two factors that are attached with Prachanda’s own and his party’s political ambition and China’s renewed interest in its neighborhood – especially Nepal which still remains a playground for the western powers for ‘upsetting’ Tibetan issue.

The recent formation of the Chief Justice led Interim Electoral Cabinet (IEC) in Nepal marked a new phase of transition. With various issues related with the constitution drafting still unsettled, instability across the nation, is predicted more than it was during the early CA elections. Scores of ethnic and regionalist groups’ demands for a ethnic/regional federal states have not been addressed or managed. An unstable neighborhood is never in the interest of a nation, that is trying hard to subside its own secessionist groups.

If the formation of federal states is carried out on the basis of ethnicity or ‘unitary ethnic identity’ as demanded by some recently formed ethnic-based and regional-based politics forces in Nepal, it is sure to be creating more hurdles for the neighbors- who are finding it hard to have their concerns addressed even with a centralized government in the present stage.

Prachanda comes into picture at this very moment. As the person who brought Nepal to this present stage- through bloodshed and later through peaceful politics- he is presently one of the mostly looked after political strategist that the nation has. With China adopting a more close-neighborhood policy, as announced by Jinping himself, Prachanda’s tour seems significant, though the dialogue between the duo still remains unconfirmed.

Apart from the China factor, the visit is certain to add some muscles to his party’s standing among the major political parties. In the recent time, relationship of Nepal’s older parties like the Nepali Congress and CPN UML’s communication with Indian centers has remained unhealthy. This was ascertained when the Maoist led Bhattarai government continued ruling even though NC President Koirala and UML’s Oli had communicated their willingness to take the reins. With Bhattarai cherishing support from Delhi, Prachanda’s visit might win the UCPN Maoist support from Beijing.

These confluence of support to Prachanda’s party will be a substantial threat to the claims of NC and UML, who are presently focused on strengthening their electoral standing by campaigning across the nation. If Prachanda meets Jingping, than he will one of the leader from South Asian nations to hold talks in the great hall. Adding to it, if the dialogue remain substantial, it will surely boost his party’s electoral campaign that aims to win a majority in the upcoming CA.

Lack of two third majority of any of the political parties and polarization leading to confrontation between the major forces had obliterated the earlier endeavor to draft the constitution. With preparations to forge alliance with the Madhesh-centric parties, Prachanda has hopes to remain a dominant force in the next CA too. This visit might just provide him the stamina to sustain his aspirations.

Family Politics!

Besides Prachanda and his party’s claims that he will be holding dialogue with China’s President, his family politics is also surprisingly attached with this trip and shocking too, to some extent. The Maoist supremo will be heading to China with his wife and his recently India-returned son Prakash Dahal. Though Prakash was absconding from the nation and from Prachanda’s sight after he eloped with party co-cadre, he has recently returned home. And Prachanda has nullified all disciplinary actions taken by the party against him and has paved way for his son to accompany him to the Great Hall. The news report claimed that Prachanda has denied not to take any of the senior leaders of the party with him citing secrecy reasons.

KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Chinese ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai on Monday held discussions with Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala.

Sources at the Koirala residence, where the meeting was held, informed that the meeting centered on the formation of Interim Electoral Council, China-Nepal relationship and Nepal’s commitment to one-China policy among other.

In response to his queries, Koirala informed Chuntai that political parties were looking forward to hold CA elections by mid-July and added that incumbent Interim Electoral Council was part of their commitment.

He urged the ambassador to provide constructive support from the Chinese government to Nepal while it was moving forward to seek another mandate from the people.

On the occasion, envoy Chuntai reiterated China’s commitment to Nepal’s prosperity and national integrity.

The meeting is part of Chuntai’s introductory meetings with Nepal’s key politicians and officials.

KATHMANDU: China has new leadership in Beijing and a new representative in Kathmandu. Both have stressed on pursuing a comprehensive diplomatic strategy at the global and regional level. And of course, as the closest neighbor, it has special plans for Nepal.

The newly-appointed Chinese envoy to Nepal, Wu Chuntai, while elaborating on some dimensions of this new strategy, said that the comprehensive package includes continuing economic support and the new dimensions that will be pushed further are cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

These packages, the details of which are still in the making, are part of new Chinese leadership’s policy to engage and strengthen economic and cultural ties in the region and across the globe. In his address given on the sidelines of the first session of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had said that Chinese diplomacy will stress on actively “participating in international and regional affairs to build the international system”.

Echoing the statement made by Jiechi, Chuntai in his debut press meet, held some days after he assumed responsibility at the Nepal mission, elaborated on the profound cultural and social similarities that citizens of both nations shared and pledged that China will provide any type of support to Nepal.

“It is the Chinese government´s policy to support Nepal safeguard her sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Chuntai said at the press meet which featured some video footage that provided background to his statements on China’s strategy on international and regional affairs.

After elaborating how Nepalese and the Chinese people were connected to each other through ‘salt-gold’ trade across the Himalayas or the White Pagoda monument built hundreds of years ago in China, Chuntai focused on delivering home the point- “China looks forward to support its neighbors in their endeavours and of course bringing economic support to Nepal is a priority.”

While adding the cultural exchange dimension in Sino-Nepal ties, Chuntai and the new Chinese leaderships’ stress remained on extending economic cooperation.

But is Nepal ready for it?

Presently with more than US $ 100 million investment, over 20 Chinese companies are actively involved in Nepal’s development and commercial projects. Though Chinese side has expressed willingness and in some cases commitment too, some mega projects have been a victim to ‘unstable politics’ of the recipient country.

West Seti Hydropower, Pokhara International Airport, Kathmandu Ring Road upgrading have been in the offing for some time now. Though Chuntai in the press conference said that progress was being made in implementing these projects, the delay in implementing these projects were primarily victimized by Nepal’s political transition and by what can be called ‘personal-politics’.

Nepal is at the centre of contention among global actors where western and non-western forces are at play. If the recent claims of many Nepali politicians and political analyst is considered, then political stability and a homogenous foreign affairs policy among Nepalese political parties will remain elusive for some time now, at least unless the new constitution is promulgated.

Some months back, Chuntai’s predecessor at the embassy, Yang Houlan, had expressed concern over the growing instability and corresponding friction in implementing development projects in Nepal. Houlan’s concern hinted that even though China was willing to open up its resources for Nepal, lack of stable government and policy was depriving it from it.

China had assisted Nepal in some mega projects in the past too. But as Houlan remembered, those projects were implemented and completed as they faced relatively less friction owing to the centralized governance and ideology at the time.

But again as he figured out, times have changed in Nepal and this time around they are turbulent than ever as the nation continues limping ahead without a constitution to guide it. Adding to it, the growing mistrust and confrontation between Nepal’s major political powers, between major and fringe parties and between national and regional political forces has rendered the nation’s political future uncertain.

An Optimist Strategy:

The new Chinese leadership seemed euphoric in announcing their preparations to leading the global economy and in focusing their diplomatic strategy primarily in the regional affairs. And so was Chuntai’s announcement at the press meet.

The proposed people-to-people and cultural exchanges, which features a Chinese cultural event in Kathmandu in the near future, sure seems to be an effort to strengthen ties between people of both nations and to reinforce the cultural and trade foundations between both nations.

People-to-people exchanges are far better options to build and strengthen existing relationship in comparison to centralized top-down model of assistance. It’s the safest road to build ever-lasting bilateral ties.

KATHMANDU: The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu recently submitted a diplomatic note to Nepal’s foreign minister over the self immolation carried out by a Tibetan monk in Kathmandu.

The note has reminded Nepal’s Maoist government of its commitment to One-China policy and its subsequent commitment to control Free-Tibet activities in Nepali soil.

The note was submitted following the self-immolation and subsequent death of a Tibetan monk identified as Thundup Dopchen in Kathmandu recently.

In the diplomatic note, Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Yang Houlan has said, ” Nepal is firm with its commitment to one-china policy and I am confident it can avert this kind of incidences in the future,” the Kanatipur Dainik quoted on Tuesday.

“The self immolation incident of Boudha has become an issue of public interest. As an incident that is against the spirit of the Buddhist philosophy, it should be taken seriously,” the report quoted the envoy further.

Nepal is home to around 30 thousand Tibetan refugees scattered around the nation and though time and again there have been Free Tibet movement in Nepal, self immolation by Dopchen was the first ever in Nepal.
The report has claimed that Dopchen had arrived in Kathmandu from Sinchuan province of China with a plan to self immolate on March 10- the day marked as Tibet’s Independence day. However, he had self immolated him by brushing aside the plan that Nepal’s intel was able to gather.

Following the incidence, Nepal has tightened flow of Tibetans via all transits including Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Tatopani among others have been tightened.

KATHMANDU: While the nation has one China policy as the bed rock of its bilateral relationship with China, two Nepali human rights activists have been openly assisting the Free Tibetan Movement.

The movement backed by the Western nations has been a major threat to the Chinese side and consecutive Nepali government since the monarchy era have opposed to allow the use of Nepali soil to be used against its Northern neighbor.

However, Nepal Human Rights Organization President Sudeep Pathak and Kapil Shrestha have a different opinion on the issue that propels them to participate movement’s actitivities in Nepal.

Nepali vernacular national daily, The Saurya Dainik, reported that though Pathak had earlier denied any involvment in the movement, he recently agreed to it when the newspaper produced an image that pictured him participating in a meeting with the Free Tibet Movement activists.

” I am not related to the Tibetan refugees therefore there is no chance of participating in their meetings,” Pathak was quoted saying earlier to the newspaper while challenging to produce evidence if otherwise.

But he changed his statement as soon as the newspaper produced the image.

I am a pacifist. I will participate in any program that is related to pacifism.Like the sunshine, the world is aware of that,

Pathak was quoted.

Pathak’s claims that the movement has been pacifist is however controversial given the self-immolation trend taken by the Tibetan refugees. Recently a Tibetan Refugee had self immolated in the center of Kathmandu.

However another human rights activist Shrestha did not bother to conceal his participation in the movement. Shreshtha said,

Its my duty to participate in any program that is related to human rights. If the Chinese government had not violated human rights, then why would hundreds of Tibetan self immolate?”Shrestha said adding, “some of Chinese agents can object to my allegiance, but i don’t care about them.”

Quoting anonymous sources, the newspaper further reported that both Pathak and Shrestha receive massive funds from India based Potala monastery sourced from the United States.

Adding to it, the duo has also been reported to have been in regular contact with Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

KATHMANDU: Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Yang Houlan has asserted that a stable and prosperous Nepal is in the best interest of China and India.

Speaking at the Reporters Club Nepal’s face-to-face program on Friday, Houlan informed that both China and India have been in constant communication over Nepal issues.

“China has more cooperation with India on Nepal affairs. It is good for our three countries”, said Houlan at the program presided by Reporters Club Nepal’s President Rishi Dhamala.

Dispelling reports that China and Indian interests in Nepal were conflicting, envoy Houlan said, “In Nepal we support and trust each other” and added that trilateral cooperation between Nepal, China and India is beneficial for regional stability.

“China and India have been good neighbors and partners in regional and internal affairs,” Houlan said stressing on the mutual bilateral ties between New Delhi and Beijing.

While refuting any Chinese investments in the Southern plains of Nepal that would harm India, as reported by some Indian media, Houlan said that present Chinese development initiatives, including a hospital in Chitwan, is aimed at Nepal’s development.

“China’s involvement in Nepal is limited to support Nepal’s economic and social development and I think Nepal’s economic development is also in the interest of India,” Houlan said.

The Chinese ambassador said that China looked forward to increase communication with India on Nepal to support the latter’s development initiatives.

“Our prime minister during his recent visit to Nepal has said that we support Nepal’s relationship and cooperation with India while respecting Nepal’s sovereignty,” the envoy said.

Referring to journalist’s queries on Free Tibet Movement in Nepal and INGOs behind the movement, the Houlan said, “Some forces are using the Free Tibet Movement to check China’s development and stability.”

Conceding that the Nepal’s government might be facing pressure from these forces to act against China’s stability concerns, envoy Houlan lauded the role of Nepalese government and people in deterring these forces.
“The Nepalese government and people understand our concerns and know how to deal with those forces,” said Houlan adding, “ We have no problem in this regard.”

In a different context, the Chinese ambassador refuted claims that China had a take on the ongoing political confrontation between the Presidency and government in Nepal.
While denying that China favored any of these sides, Houlan said that Nepalese people and Nepal’s political parties are capable of choosing the best option for them.

However, the envoy stressed Nepal should resolve political status quo at the earliest through negotiations and dialogues and shift focus on economic and social development from political disputes.

Terming ongoing political status quo as unfortunate for Nepal’s development, the envoy expressed Beijing’s optimism that the Nepalese people will resolve it effectively by devising their own strategy.

Exemplifying China’s cultural revolution in the 70’s of the erstwhile century, Houlan expressed the belief that Nepal will also move towards development from the present crisis.

Responding to queries on China’s new leadership’s foreign policy, ambassador Houlan said that the new leadership would continue the nation’s non-interference policy in other nation’s internal affairs.

Stating that China will continue its initiative for a prosperous, peaceful and ecologically friendly world, Houlan said Nepal would continue as one of the priorities in the days ahead too.

Speaking on the occasion, Club’s President Rishi Dhamala lauded China’s cooperation in Nepal and the role played by Houlan in fostering bilateral ties between China and Nepal and bridging relationship with India too.