BEIJING, April 22:Experts inChinahave described UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s visit to the northern neighbor within a month after the leadership change inChinaas the beginning of a new chapter in Nepal-China relations.
Stating that Dahal had sought China´s effective support for economic prosperity and stability inNepal, Chinese experts onNepalhave said China´s investment would be centered onNepaland other neighboring countries for the next 10 years. Dahal wrapped up his weeklongChinavisit and arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday night.
During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday, Dahal had requested the Chinese leader to funnel intoNepal"as only a prosperousNepalcan effectively further one-China policy and that would help in addressing China´s security concern onTibet".
Also, Beijing-basedNepalexperts argued that the China´s security concerns and Nepal´s economic prosperity are interlinked.
"These [security concerns and economic prosperity] are two sides of the same coin," Hu Shisheng, director, Institutite of South & Southeast Asian and Oceania Stidies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), told Republica. "If you put both the sides at one place, it will address both the concerns. If the entire region includingNepalis developed, then the security threat will just go away."
Hu also claimed that President Xi, who is expected to remain in power for the next 10 years, would focus on creating conducive atmosphere for economic prosperity of the neighboring countries includingNepal.
"It is the responsibility of bothChinaandIndiato support in Nepal´s economic development. Nepali citizens should be able to benefit from the rapid economic development taking place in the two neighboring countries," he said. "Therefore,Chinawill put more investment in the sectors of economic and social developments inNepalin the next 10 years."
Prof Wang Hong-wei of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies said that China´s new leadership decided to invite Dahal as the first guest from South Asia as per its policy to give priority to neighboring and developing countries.
"The fact that Prachanda became the first South Asian leader to meet China´s new leader Xi Jinping also reflect´s Beijing´s priority," said Wang, who met Dahal in Beijing.
According to him, the talks between President Xi and Dahal were held in a very friendly manner and "I see this visit as one of strategic importance".
Similarly, Zhang Li, professor at Institute of South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, China believed that this visit will be proved important in paving the way for political stability and economic prosperity in Nepal.
Zhang described Dahal´s speech made at Sichuan University on the second day of his visit as "encouraging and meaningful".
An expert on China-South Asia strategic relations, Zhang believed that the top leaders´ talks held at the Great Hall has given a message with regard to the geopolitical situation of the region. "Important discussions have taken place in Beijing in connection with some sensitive bilateral as well as regional issues including Kathmandu´s role in keepingTibetin a stable situation," said Zhang. "It seems Beijing has taken Dahal´s visit as important due to Nepal´s geopolitical importance in connection withTibetand for increasing Chinese influence in South Asia."
