By Rabi Raj Thapa

Once, the Russian Revolutionary leader Vladimir I. Lenin had quoted “there are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen”. What is happening in China these days may be taken as a historic moment not only to China but to the whole of Asia and non-Western countries of the 21st century. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit held in Tianjin this year is indeed a historic global event and a great achievement of Asia that can inspire and pave the way to prosperity and development of the countries and participants of the summit.

Incidentally, the SCO summit has taken place at a time Nepal is shocked and somehow upset by the bilateral trade agreement between China and India over the Lipulek-Limpiadhura, which Nepal claims is its territory. Therefore, this has been an obvious matter of embarrassment to bring about in such a great world event, but it is also necessary and better to open our minds and bring up the matter to may foster better understanding and clarify all confusion and misunderstanding for days to come.

Keeping some conflicting issues aside, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit (SCO) has provided a great opportunity for Nepal to explore and exploit all possibilities among two emerging global powers with 2.8 billion people in the world.

SCO is definitely going to bring a drastic change in the global order soon, and China and India are in the process of becoming global powers.

But it is up to the Nepali themselves to find out and clear all hindrances before we can benefit and take advantage of all opportunities as a “win-win” situation?

However, people find the whole world enmeshed in crises. Since 2022, the Russian-Ukrainian war has brought dissension and differences between Europe to Europe, and even Europe and the USA. There is war and chaos in the Middle East, and Gaza is burning in rage, famine and devastation.

Now the world seems to have divided into multipolar and multilateral groups. The United States is openly and visibly supporting Israel, whereas it has pushed European nations to come forward to rescue Ukraine. Israel seems to have human sentiment while using food, water and medicine as the instruments of war. Atrocities amounting to genocide on the Gaza population are proving another apartheid South African model.

In all these situations, Asians are looking saner and human to see even arch rivals - India and Pakistan coming together in the SCO for a genuine collective purpose and cause.

As far as Nepal’s participation is concerned, Nepali PM K. P. Oleo is definitely the best leader to lead the delegation. But he is leading a fractured and fragmented Nepal. It is surprising and amazing to see Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and highly qualified Foreign Minister missing in the entourage without explanation.

However, it is inspiring to see some positive signs of a bilateral meeting between Chairman Xi Jinping and K. P. Sharma Oli. (see "Xi Meets Nepali Prime Minister on Relations" https://youtu.be/Yf1Tk3RPKMg?si=ALfnamYielf9xDdD, CCTV VDO News Agency)

  Here, the question lies: What Nepal is utilizing this opportunity and what it is benefiting from this summit, that is not clear yet. Nepal always tend to promise more and deliver less. Besides, Nepal is always poor in homework and preparation in negotiations with its foreign counterparts.   Finally, Nepal has done many dealings and negotiations with China in the past; now it needs to perform performance auditing. That is vital for Nepal’s long-lasting friendship, close cooperation and support in future to come. This will also reflect Nepal’s credibility in its bilateral and multilateral talks, negotiations and commitments in future.    What can Nepal learn from China and enhance its national interest? That is a sensitive and delicate question. As there is no way Nepal can deny any support and promise to its neighbors, the commitments made must be pragmatic and achievable.