Page 10 - The Indian EYE 092923

OPINION SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

Nepali Prime Minister

Prachanda’s Visit to China:

Opportunities and Challenges

It is a truism to say that Nepal’s sustainability and progress depend on maintaining cordial

relations with both India and China. Therefore, Prachanda’s visit to Nepal is only natural
after his visit to India in May–June 2023

SAURAV RAJ PANT

epali Prime Minister Pushpa
Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”
Nwill undertake an official vis-
it to China on 22 September 2023.
This would be his second foreign
visit after assuming office. His first
foreign visit was to New Delhi, India
in May–June 2023. This visit is being
deemed as important in Nepal given
the preceding government’s ‘neigh-
bors first’ policy, which meant Nepal
would maintain good relations with
both its important neighbors—India
and China. According to the Foreign
Ministry of Nepal, relationship of the
country with its neighbors is based on
the principles of ‘sovereign equality,
goodwill, mutual trust and benefits,
understanding of each other’s con-
cerns and sensitivities and coopera-
tion for prosperity and development’.
It is a truism to say that Nepal’s
sustainability and progress depend
on maintaining cordial relations with
both India and China. Therefore,
Prachanda’s visit to Nepal is only
natural after his visit to India in May–
June 2023. Despite the fact that India Nepal would generally find negotiations with India to be easier, given the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties it shares with India (ANI)
and China have different governance
systems and differing perspectives on long time, the entry of China into the with its Chinese counterparts. Some cate Bir Hospital to Bhaktapur for
global politics, managing these two development sector in recent years of these include infrastructure de- upgraded medical facilities.
major powers has been a difficult task has been received well by the people velopment projects such as the Seti There is a popular enthusiasm in
for the Nepali leaders. While there is at large, although there is skepticism Fast track road, Hilsa-Surkhet Road, Nepal about the country joining Chi-
a view in Kathmandu that the visit will in some sections that overdepen- Tokha-Chahare tunnel, and the up- na’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
balance his earlier visit to India, Pra- dence on China could lead Nepal to a grading of the Araniko Highway, im- in 2017, and some Nepali commen-
chanda could ill afford to delay it fur- ‘debt trap’ on the one hand and com- plementation of the 2016 Trade and tators would say that BRI has made
ther, given the growing engagement plicate relationship with India on the Transit Agreement with China and its mark by “driving urban transfor-
of China in many sectors of Nepalese other. construction of the international ex- mation in Nepal, reconfiguring geo-
economy in the last few years. ISSUES AND CHALLENGES hibition center in Kathmandu. The political and geoeconomic relations
Nepal, due to its own internal health sector is another important and remaking the sociopolitical, cul-
constraints, is dependent on its neigh- here are several projects in issue to be discussed. China has, of tural and material fabric of hitherto
bors for its development. While India the pipeline which the Nepali late, expressed its interest to expand peripheral spaces”. The impact on
has been engaged in this field for a Tside is expected to discuss the Civil Service Hospital and relo- Continued on next page... >>

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