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Chinese President Xi’s Nepal visit recalled

Kathmandu, 13 October: Last year, on 12 October, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here on a one-day formal visit to Nepal. The visit was concluded on 13 October. The Nepal-China Journalist Forum, recalling the historical visit of the paramount Chinese leader, has released “President Xi’s Nepal Visit, A Pictorial Guide”. The book is released amidst a function by the former prime minister and senior leader of the Nepal Communist Party Madhav Kumar Nepal. 

On the occasion, Nepal said that the visit of Chinese President Xi was a landmark and a living history in relations between Nepal and China. He said that the visit has opened many avenues and asked the government to implement the agreements inked during the visit and earlier for Nepal’s prosperity. 

“We have problem-less relations with China, therefore, we should utilize the harmonious relations for the development of Nepal,” Nepal said. 

“What benefit should Nepal take from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and what benefit should Nepal take from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Nepal should do good homework,” he said.

Nepal expressed confident that soon the railway up to Sigatche will reach Nepal, therefore, Nepal should do homework for maximum utilization of the cross border connectivity. 

“We should not look for the rate of return on such investment for connectivity but think for taking maximum benefit,” he said. 

“The similar question was raised on the utility of the Korari Highway when it was decided to construct,” Nepal recalled. 

We should learn from the Chinese model of development and socialism, through which, within four decades, China has reached the present position, Nepal remarked.

Lilamani Poudel, former ambassador to China and former chief secretary of the Nepal government, remarked President Xi’s visit, the first high-level visit taken place after 27 years, as a landmark. 

Poudel explained the two investment modalities – western modality and Chinese modality – and remarked that for the past 70 years, we are receiving grants and loan, still, we are poor! The reason, he explained that from 70 to 80 per cent of such grants and loan go back to the concerned country. 

However, Poudel said that he didn’t see such a practice while taking Chinese support. 

China wants stability in Nepal. For stability, prosperity is important. Therefore, the Chinese leaders always wish for prosperous and stable Nepal, he said.

Poudel said that if Nepal wishes for faster development, there is no alternate except for utilizing the Chinese support. 

He urged for construction of the cross border railway for Nepal’s connectivity with the entire globe. Even if the financial rate of return report is negative, we should not stop the project as it will be the link to connect Nepal with the entire world. 

Chairman of the Forum Kishor Shrestha had chaired the programme.      

People’s News Monitoring Service