Parmeshwar Devkota

Legendary Chinese philosopher Mencius has described the importance of family and friends in these words: ‘Between the father and the son, there should be affection. Between sovereign and minister, there should be righteousness. Between old and young, there should be proper order. And between friends, there should be good faith’.
Irrespective of their size, population and economy, the People’s Republic of China and Nepal have been good friends since the time immemorial. As Mencius said, there is ‘good faith’ between the two neighbours.
The relationship between the two neighbours goes back to the 7th century AD when famous traveller from China Hsuan-Tsang, on the way to India, visited Nepal. The ties renewed in a vibrant way during the period of Ming Dynasty of China. In 1384, a Chinese emperor sent a Royal coin to Nepal, acknowledging the rule of the then Malla King. In response, the Malla king despatched some small Chaityas made up of gold and some books on Buddhism to Beijing. Interestingly, the monk, who had headed for Beijing from Kathmandu in 1385 AD, reached there after two years.
Bilateral relations between the two nations have gone from strength to strength since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1955. The high-level visits from the two sides have increased over the years, adding new dimensions to their bilateral bond.
On November 29, Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe visited Nepal. In his one-day sojourn, he met with President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Nepali counterpart Chief of Nepali Army Staff General Purna Chandra Thapa and held talks with them on vital bilateral issues.
General Wei is the highest Chinese official to make a trip to Nepal after President Xi Jinping, who came here in October last year. During his cordial conversation with Nepali leaders, Wei neither demanded anything nor put any condition before Nepali side.
Instead, he urged Nepal government to create a congenial environment for the implementation of development projects as agreed upon between the two nations during President Xi’s historic state visit. Wei had a hectic schedule. It would have been icing on the cake if he had stayed at least one night in Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha that connects the two nations spiritually.
Wei also called for the timely execution of agreements and protocols signed by the two countries. He laid much emphasis on cross-border connectivity, especially railways, transmission line and petroleum pipeline which are of the prominent importance to Nepal. He also gave emphasis on conducting feasibility study for the Kerung-Kathmandu, Kathmandu-Pokhara and Pokhara-Lumbini railways. This feasibility study, if initiated on time, will give a strong message to Nepali people at a time when they are reeling from the COVID-19 shocks.
As one of the oldest sovereign nations in the world, Nepal has adopted balanced and independent foreign policy guided by the Panchsheel, nonalignment, UN Charter and other international laws and conventions. Nepal is for ‘friendship with all, enmity with none’. Therefore, we should request both the northern and southern neighbours for the economic development of the country so as to fulfil the lofty motto of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’.