Nepali leaders reiterate adherence to one-China policy

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Nepali leaders reiterate adherence to one-China policy

(Xinhua) 08:34, August 02, 2013

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KATHMANDU, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of various Nepali political parties have reiterated their commitment to the one- China policy and vowed to stop any anti-China activities in the country.

They made the remarks at an event to mark the 58th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Speakers including former Prime Minister and senior leader of UCPN Maoist Nepal, Babu Ram Bhattarai, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai, UCPN leader, CP Gajurel, former Finance Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani and President of the Nepal China Society Premi Kumari Pant gave their views on the importance of cordial relations between the two countries and how it can flourish over the years.

Relations between the two neighbors dates back to more than 2, 000 years, when Chinese scholars visited the country to study about the region.

Nepali artist Arniko visited China in the 12th century to construct the White Pagoda in Beijing in 1278, which still stands.

In 1955 Nepal and the People's Republic of China established formal diplomatic ties. According to former Nepali ambassador to China Rajendra Acharya, Nepal was the 25th county in the world to establish a formal diplomatic relation with China.

"Situated on the two sides of the mighty Himalayas, Nepal and China have enjoyed an excellent relationship throughout history", said Bhattarai, adding that Nepal attaches utmost importance to the friendly ties with China and has consistently been committed to the one-China policy, vowing not to allow its territory to be used against China.

Wu Chuntai said the bilateral friendly exchanges have never been interrupted. He added that since Aug. 1, 1955, the two countries have upheld the five principles of peaceful coexistence and have been good friends and neighbors.

"China appreciates that Nepal firmly pursues the one-China policy and does not allow any forces to use the Nepali territory to engage in anti-China activities," said Chuntai, adding that the Communist Party of China was to keen to establish a cordial relation with the political parties of Nepal.

Speakers also called for strong trade ties between the two countries. They said that Nepal should lure more Chinese investors to work on hydro projects and more tourists to the country.

"Chinese investors are more than willing to invest in Nepal if there is political stability in the country and that alone can help in reducing the trade deficit against China," said former Nepali Finance Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani.

He added that Nepal could also capitalize, like in the pre- historic ages, by acting as a transit point for China and India.

A record number of 113,000 Chinese tourists visited Nepal last year. According to former Nepali ambassador to China Rajendra Acharya, Nepal was the first country in South Asia and ninth in the world to be listed by China as tourism destinations around the world.

Acharya thought that Nepal has yet to fully tap the potential opportunities brought about the importance China attaches to the country.

Senior UCPN Maoist leader, CP Gajurel, newly returned from a visit to China, said that the most important lesson that Nepal has to learn is to make independent decisions and not to depend on foreign powers for the development of the country.

"One thing I have learnt from the rapid progress of China is that they don't allow foreign intrusion when making important decisions and that is also the reason China never interferes in any decisions made by Nepal," said Gajurel.