China Nepal's bridge with East Asia: Bhattarai

KATHMANDU, AUG 02 - Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has said China is not only the friend and development partner of Nepal, but also the bridge between the Himalayan country and East Asia.

Nepal is a vibrant bridge between China and South Asia, the UCPN (Maoist) ideologue said at a programme organised by Nepal- China Society in Kathmandu on Thursday on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Nepal and the People's Republic of China . Nepal- China relations are multidimensional and encompass a wide range of areas from political, social, economic, trade, strategic to cultural affairs, he said.

After the second Constituent Assembly elections, the UCPN (Maoist) wants to focus on rapid economic development to catch up with the rest of the world in the shortest possible time, said Bhattarai, adding that close economic cooperation with the world's second largest economy in that context will come in handy for both the sides.

Speaking at the same function, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai said the new Chinese leadership has attached great importance to its relations with Nepal and the recent high-level visits from the both sides exhibited commitment to that effect, taking the bilateral relations to a new height. China wants to build good party-to-party relations with Nepal's political parties for further consolidating its relations with the Himalayan country, he said.

Similarly, Chief Secretary Leela Mani Poudyal said Nepal- China relations are time tested, all-weather and have been gaining maturity over the period of time. Nepal- China friendship is a model of relations between a big country and a small nation, said Poudel, adding that Nepal is well placed to work as a transit country between China and India.

Also addressing the event, former minister Prakash Chandra Lohani said Nepal- China relations are based on mutual trust and goodwill.

CPN-Maoist Vice-chairman CP Gajurel, who had recently visited China , said the reason behind China 's rise was its ability to take decisions independently and without others' interferences.

Likewise, former Ambassador to China Rajeshwor Acharya highlighted the dynamics of Nepal- China relations. Prem Suwal of Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party said that Nepal needs to "do a lot" if the country were to  sincerely respect the one- China policy. Some of the policies that Nepal is adopting on the Tibetean refugee issue are not compatible with the international practice, which Nepal needs to correct, he said.

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