Continuity and change are key characteristics of Nepal’s foreign policy. The national interest is the long-term foreign policy goal of any country, which does not change despite changes in governments or even in the political system. However, the tactics, tools and approaches may change depending upon the context and developments in the outer world to achieve the core objectives of foreign policy. In Nepal’s case, despite changes in political systems and regimes in the past, the fundamental interests, goals and priorities of foreign policy have remained unchanged, while consecutive governments may have adopted different styles and approaches in achieving the core dynamics of foreign policy goals.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) government, headed by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, appears to have adopted slightly different styles, approaches and priorities in handling the country’s diplomacy. The first action is the government’s decision to strictly follow and uphold the diplomatic code of conduct, which had not been in practice in the past. Prime Minister Balendra Shah avoided meetings with individual ambassadors and instead he met and interacted with them in a group, which is in practice in other countries as well.
Pragmatic diplomacy
Secondly, the new government has focused more on pragmatic diplomacy to achieve the country’s foreign policy goals as enshrined in the constitution. It has emphasised ‘Nepal first and Nepali first’ policy around which diplomacy seems to have been anchored. Economic and development diplomacy are the new government’s buzz words, which, in our national context, would imply mainly focusing on bringing more development assistance, foreign direct investment, promoting export trade, technology transfer, attracting more quality tourists by popularising Nepal’s destinations and other social and cultural features apart from mobilising Nepali diaspora and properly utilising other soft power tools.
Geography is one of the key determinants in shaping the behaviour of the state and its foreign policy priorities. In the realist world of diplomacy, Nepal’s geographic position also begs rational diplomatic handling and pursuing a delicate balance between our two immediate neighbours and other key powers as well as development partners. This is both Nepal’s choice as well as compulsion for its best and broader national interest. It has also been the consistent stance and policy right from the time Nepal’s foreign policy started evolving.
Neighbours are always the priority of foreign policy and diplomatic dealings for any country in the world. The level of relations with other countries depends upon the nature of engagements and level of partnership. Neighbours have definitely more engagements. Although Nepal has diplomatic relations with 183 countries in the world but the nature of relations and level of engagement with different countries distinctly vary. Being close neighbours, Nepal has definitely greater engagements with India and China. However, other powers and development partners, including the United States, United Kingdom and Japan, too, occupy prominence in our foreign policy.
The present government also seems to have accorded greater priority to the neighbours, which is a natural, pragmatic and correct approach. The government is effortful in accelerating engagements with countries based on priority and economic interest, with higher importance to its close neighbours— India and China. Building trust and confidence is the first and foremost necessity in dealing with other countries. Exchanges of visits and interactions contribute to building trust and confidence among nations.
Foreign policy is Prime Minister Shah’s key priority. But he tends to focus more on domestic matters and, thus, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has been busy in diplomatic dealings and interactions with neighbours, friends and partners seeking to build trust and confidence. As neighbours are a priority, Foreign Minister Khanal first visited India and interacted with Indian leaders and officials, which helped create a positive vibe in Nepal-India relations. Soon after returning from India, Khanal concluded a friendly visit to northern neighbour China.
During his visit to Beijing, Khanal got actively engaged in meaningful diplomatic dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other officials on matters concerning bilateral relations and cooperation. The visit and interaction helped them understand one another and build an atmosphere of trust between the two countries. As RSP is the new political force that rose to power in the aftermath of the Gen Z movement, some people have tried to portray Nepal’s new political developments and the RSP government in a different light.
Minister Khanal reiterated Nepal’s long-held ‘One-China Policy’ and stated Nepal’s focus on economic diplomacy for which he sought China’s meaningful support. Nepal and China also have their own concerns. Minister Khanal diplomatically but clearly conveyed Nepal’s concern and, at the same time, he assured that Nepal will fully address Beijing’s concerns in Nepal. While Khanal emphasised close neighbourhood relations, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi remarked “close neighbours are more important than far-off relatives,” implying that China accords greater importance to relations with Nepal. In the present geopolitical scenario, these overtures carry significant message and meaning. As a whole, Khanal’s visit contributed to building an atmosphere of trust and goodwill between Nepal and China.
Time-tested relations
Nepal and China have long and time-tested relations based on friendship, cooperation and respect for one another’s sovereignty and sensitivities. The modern and formal relations between these two countries started being reshaped after Nepal and China established diplomatic relations in 1955. Since then, relations between these two close neighbours have continued to grow.
China is not only a close neighbour of Nepal but also a global power that has a big clout in international power politics. Similarly, China is the world’s second-largest economy and has achieved remarkable progress in other sectors. But we have not fully reaped the desirable benefits from China’s rise and growth mainly because these two countries have not yet overcome the geographical barrier. The transport connectivity between them is still poor. China has financial resources as well as technological prowess which can be used to build reliable all-weather surface connectivity so that Nepal can benefit more from China’s development. As a global economic power, it is also China’s obligation to help its neighbour come out of poverty and backwardness.
(The author is a former chief editor of this daily and a former ambassador. lamsalyubanath@gmail.com)
The Rising Nepal
