People to People relations between Nepal and China
Address prominent dignitaries present
I thank the organizer for having me here.
Nepal-China relations are intimate and broad-based dating back to historic times. These relations are not limited to government to government alone. They cover a wide spectrum. People to people relations remain important dynamics in Nepal-China relations. They have helped to strengthen the diplomatic, political and economic relations between the two countries.
Nepal-China relations were formalized on the foundation of the principles of peaceful co-existence in 1955. They are driven by mutual respect, mutual cooperation, mutual interests of two peoples and their countries. These values and norms travel down to the people level and people to people (P2P) contacts in turn contribute to enriching the building of mutual support, friendliness, closer understanding in bilateral relations. In the best and even in worst of times, people to people relations relatively stand normal, peaceful and continue making positive impact and shaping foreign policy narratives. Such is the impact of people-to-people relations.
We read the story of Chinese national Manjushree traveling to Kathmandu valley and seeing it as a snake-infested lake cut the George at Chobar and drained the water transforming the valley into a habitable site. History tells us that fifth century Chinese scholars and monks travelled to Nepal in search of knowledge and wisdom. Buddhabhadra traveled to China in 5th century for studying and translating Buddhist texts and preaching Buddhism in China. In seventh century, matrimonial relations started with the marriage of Nepali princess Bhrikuti to the Tibetan king. The Newari merchants were the early Nepalese visitors in Tibet, who went to Lhasa for a business purpose in the seventh century. Those times were not easy.
Lichhavi King Narendra Dev expanded cultural and economic relations between Nepal and Tibet. Nepali artists under the leadership of Araniko in the thirteenth century constructed the White Pagoda which stands tall at the center of Beijing. A significant chunk of British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas is settled in Hongkong. These are only a few early examples of P2P relations between Nepal and China. Teachings of Lord Buddha, enlightened son of Nepal, have impacted socio-cultural lives of both Nepal and China. The exchange of visits at various levels have significantly contributed to building the edifice of Nepal-China relations where in people-to-people relations occupy a significant space.
With the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1955, new dimensions have been added to Nepal-China relations. The two countries have witnessed steady progress in bilateral diplomatic ties, mutually beneficial economic cooperation and increasingly close people-to-people exchanges. Nepal maintains Embassy in Beijing, and consulates in Lhasa and Guangzhou. Chinese embassy in Kathmandu has been actively working and adding new aspects in bilateral relations. The embassy has been hosting cultural programs from time to time. That has helped to enhance people to people awareness about each other.
China has been offering scholarships to Nepali students in various studies. Of late China has emerged as a preferred destinations for Nepali students for higher studies in Engineering and Medical Sciences. A new generation of engineers and medical doctors after their studies in China have been contributing to the process of development in Nepal. They have added goodwill and warmth in our bilateral relations, and acted as a vital source of promoting mutual understanding and mutual trust towards each other. The exchange of party-to-party delegations have helped to better understand each other and strengthened the structure of Nepal-China bilateral relations.
Academic institutions of our two countries have initiated exchange programmes between them. Several exchange programmes are also run at the University levels. It is encouraging to see that even private schools, colleges and universities in Nepal have started teaching Chinese language. China Culture Center, Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in Nepal promote China-Nepal cultural exchanges and cooperation, and support Chinese language education in Nepal. This will help the coming generation to learn Chinese language from school levels and help understand better the Chinese culture and civilization.
Tourism is yet another sector to promote people to people contacts and understanding. We were encouraged to hear China welcoming Nepal to hold promotional activities of the Nepal Visit Year 2025 in China, and will encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Nepal. Nepal also has pledged to support the China Culture Center in holding various activities in Nepal, and welcomes China to hold signature events, such as China Festival and Happy Spring Festival, in Nepal. Various events including the Chinese Film Festival in Nepal in 2025 decided during the visit of Rt. Hon’ble Prime Minister will be hosted in Nepal to support large cultural, sports and tourism activities in Nepal. These events, I am sure, will help to bolster contact and conduct friendly exchanges.
Prime Minister Rt. Hon. K P Sharma Oli, paid an official visit to China from December 2 to 5, 2024. During the visit, official level talks also covered promoting people to people contacts. People-to-people bonds are identified as one of the five pillars of Belt and Road initiative (BRI), other being policy coordination, connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration. They all aim to enhance people to people relations.
Chinese premier Li called on the two sides to deepen people-to-people exchanges and sub-national cooperation. The Joint Statement issued during the visit calls for further strengthening strengthen exchanges and cooperation in such areas as youth, education, culture, tourism, radio and television, online audio-visual products, and think tanks, deepen people-to-people exchanges as well as interactions at various levels including between sister cities, and further facilitate two-way travel, so as to forge closer ties between the two peoples and pass down the friendship to future generations.
The year 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal. During the visit, the two countries comprehensively discussed the ways and means to make the celebration of the anniversary a momentous one. It will be an occasion to look back, review and explore new areas to look to the future. Timely implementation of the understandings and agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries is important to strengthen political mutual trust, and deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.
The Belt and Road Initiative, championed by china’s President Xi Jinping, is not merely an infrastructure project; it is an ambitious vision for shared prosperity. It aims to foster connectivity, enhance trade routes, and promote cultural exchanges. For Nepal, some country rich in cultural heritage and natural resources, this initiative presents an extraordinary opportunity to propel its development while ensuring sustainability.0
With these remarks, I conclude and thank you for your kind attention.
Thank you all.
Long live Nepal-China friendship