China a reliable, all-weather good neighbor of Nepal, says ambassador

Chinese investments have boosted Nepalese economy by generating employment and elevating living standards of the people, Nepal's Ambassador to China Leela Mani Paudyal said.

China is the largest source of foreign investment in Nepal while the country recorded economic growth of 6.5 percent last year and the World Bank has predicted the growth rate to reach 7.5 percent this year.

Nepal's Ambassador to China Leela Mani Paudyal

Talking to China Daily website, Paudyal praised Chinese government's assistances to Nepal's stability and economic development.

"China, as a reliable, trustworthy and all-weather good neighbor, has been providing assistance for socio-economic development and helping in stability of Nepal. China has never held back its support to Nepal irrespective of big political changes (even regime change) in Nepal and in international arena. China has never intruded in our internal matters and continuously supports the government as per the wishes of the Nepalese people," said the ambassador in the context of 62 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two neighbors.

He said Nepal and China have been enjoying relations since ancient times. "Exchanges of intellectuals and artists from Kathmandu and Lumbini, birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha, to China and from Xian and other parts of China to Nepal opened up the avenues for cooperation since 2,000 years of recorded history. Gyirong remained uninterrupted pass in the last 2,000 years towards north and south of Himalayas. We have to explore the opportunities therein."

Referring to trade deficit with China, Paudyal expected that China would consider the list of the products Nepal has proposed to specify under duty free and quota free category to enable Nepalese exports to China.

"China has been very open, flexible to help us and let Nepalese product enter Chinese market on a large scale. We need help from China for the time being to enhance our production capacity by means of Chinese technology, capital and skills to produce as per Chinese market demands," he said.

He emphasized linking Nepal with the Chinese rail network as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), further increasing Chinese investment in Nepal in infrastructure, agriculture and service sectors. "Our priorities should include the improvement in connectivity such as railways, roadways, airways and communications between China and Nepal. To make this happen, we have to see more high-level political visits. Such visits create stronger basis of trust and understanding for all rounds of cooperation," he said.

Paudyal urged Chinese investors to feel confident about their investment as Nepal is a land of opportunities and that the embassy would provide all necessary assistance if the investors faced any difficulties.

The author works for The Rising Nepal and is currently a visiting reporter at China Daily Online.

See full text of the interview

Q: Nepal and China this year are marking 62nd year of their diplomatic relations. How do you see the relations in this context?

A: We have adequate basis and reasons to be satisfied and feel happy with the achievements made in Nepal-China relations during the last 62 years.

We have trouble-free and time tested excellent relations with China since we established the diplomatic ties in 1955. Nepal-China relation serves as an example of how a big and small neighbor in terms of economy, geography and population can happily coexist. Our relations have been continuously developing on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in internal matters and understanding on each other's concerns and sensitivities.

China, as a reliable and trustworthy and all-weather good neighbor, has been providing assistances for socio-economic development and wishing for stability of Nepal. China never interrupted its support to Nepal irrespective of big political changes (even regime change) in Nepal and in international arena. China never intrudes in our internal matters but supports to the government of the day as per the wishes of the Nepalese people.