Kathmandu. Minister for Foreign Affairs Shishir Khanal has thanked the government and people of the People’s Republic of China for providing humanitarian assistance and solidarity during the recent Himalayan disaster.
Addressing a programme entitled ‘Nepal-China Relations: Expanding Horizons of Cooperation’ organised under Kasthamandap Dialogue, Series-3 that kicked off here today, he said although political boundaries divide countries, the Himalayas and its ecosystem are interrelated. Stating that environmental risks and disasters are not limited to national borders, he pointed out the need for shared responsibility, preparedness and regional cooperation.
Discussing Nepal-China relations, Foreign Minister Khanal presented geography as an important basis for the relations between the two countries. But he was of the view that geography alone would not determine the future of the relations.
He said that Nepal and China have centuries-old civilizational relations developed through community, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges along the bordering areas. He reiterated Nepal’s commitment to the one-China policy and made it clear that Nepal’s land would not be allowed to be used against China’s legitimate security interests. Minister Khanal stressed on the need of translating the traditional goodwill between the two countries into practical cooperation. Recalling the Strategic Partnership established in 2019, he stressed the need for further strengthening cooperation based on connectivity, easy cross-border trade, technology transfer and shared prosperity. Appreciating the progress China has made in the field of technology, he called for greater cooperation in innovation, laboratory, research and knowledge exchange. He expressed the belief that such
cooperation would help Nepal utilize its demographic dividend.
He pointed out the need to include ecological aspects in the traditional management of the border. He said that there is a need for closer cooperation between Nepal and China for the management of common Himalayan risks, expansion of connectivity and construction of disaster-resilient border infrastructure.
Khanal highlighted the importance of intellectual and academic dialogue in bilateral relations. He called for increasing the participation of Chinese scholars and scholars in Nepal’s educational and policy debates. He believed that continuous academic exchanges would deepen mutual understanding and contribute to the formulation of a more factual and mature foreign policy. He expressed confidence in the future of Nepal-China relations and reiterated the commitment of the Government of Nepal to further deepen the partnership.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्
