One Belt One Road: tangible prospects for Nepal-China multifaceted cooperation
Prime minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal's recent visit of China has given important signal to further aggravate Nepal-China multifaceted cooperation in a new framework and new dimensions. Prime Minister Dahal came in China to participate in a Boao forum for Asia. After the forum meeting, he came in Beijing and met Chinese President Xi Jinping. In around of fifty minute discussions, they talked about Nepal-China pragmatic cooperation and how to coordinate issues regarding with Belt and Road Initiative. After the meeting with President Xi, Nepal's prime minister Dahal in an interview with CGTN said that meeting with president Xi is very fruitful and One Belt One Road will supports to enhance Nepal's economic development.
In Nepal, most of the People blamed Dahal-led government for not being serious on implementing agreements held with China by previous KP Sharma Oli government. Popular Oli government last year did historical ten points agreements with People's Government of China (PRC) regarding with trade, transportation, petroleum products, energy, investment, cross-border connectivity etc. That was the milestone agreements to end monopoly of India in Nepal's affairs. These agreements also did at a time when Nepal was faced notorious blockade by India. At a time of making implementing procedures of agreements, due to the no confidence vote in parliament Oli government loose the power and Dahal became the prime minister. From the initial phase to even till now, Dahal government has been facing criticism of being extreme pro-India and not serious to implement agreements did with China by previous Oli government. So in his visit of China, Prime Minister Dahal tried hard to win trust of China government and showed his commitment to implement the agreements.
One Belt One Road: What Nepal could gain?
Since Chinese president Xi Jinping launched big project of Belt and Road Initiative (B and R) in 2013, it has given positive signals to developing worlds for win-win situation on economic, cultural and technological cooperation. Though Nepal is not directly associated with B and R Initiative, as a periphery country, there are huge possibilities of taking benefits. China government has also given immense important on One Belt One Road cooperation with Nepal. Nepal is in important geographic location. Due to its geo-political and geo-economic situation Nepal can be golden bridge between China and South Asia. It is also said by some experts that Nepal can be "linked up" country between China and South Asia. Nepal as one of the oldest country of the world and always independent country with more than five thousand years of golden civilization, since fifty years it has been facing various forms of political instabilities. And even the last two decades are hugely notorious decades in Nepal's political and economic development. People are frustrated from political leader's political thinking and behaviors. In this context, last year Oli government, which was very popular due to its political and economic agendas and clearness, made his historical trip of China and signed ten points agreements related with investment, connectivity, petroleum products, energy cooperation etc. That raised a kind of hope and expectations among the Nepalese people. Now what is the common consensus among people in Nepal is that cooperation with China for Nepal's economic development is essential. Nepal can gain much on cooperating with China on One Belt One Road Initiative.
What Nepal should do?
Nepal-China relation since Oli government's trip of China last year moving in a new multifaceted directions. Though present government is less serious on implementation of agreements, issues and agendas of Oli government dominating even in recent visits of prime minister Dahal. Now Dahal has showed somehow serious and tried hard to win trust of Chinese government on concrete implementation of agreements. Talking with Nepali and Chinese journalists in a program held at Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, Prime Minister Dahal seriously said that his government is working to finalize MoU on One Belt One Road and making implementation procedures of agreements. Nepal needs to focus on implementation of agreements. China now second economy of the world and biggest exporter has capital, technologies, knowledge and experiences. Even in the various historical phenomena, Nepal-China relations always move on a harmonious ways. Nepal always shows its commitment on One China Policy. China's supports on Nepal's development continue since five decades. Now Nepal needs to do much from its side. For her economic development, it needs to make concrete environment for Chinese investors. There should not be any longevity on executions of policies. How much Nepal delayed on implementation, that much it cannot enjoy tangible change in economic development.
As a global leader of globalization, now responsibilities of China are increased in the international levels. There is no area or places where China is not present. Mostly in the issues of least developed countries (LDCs), China need to be more supportive. LDCs have natural resources and manpower but lack in terms of capital, knowledge and technologies. China as a liberal partner need to support them based on mutual coexistence and mutual trust. As many experts on Nepal-China affairs opined that China should realized the geo-location of Nepal and Nepal should be serious on implementing agreements did with China and also pragmatically address the relevant concerned of China.
