Foreign Minister's Visit Message

On July 16, Mishri, who became the foreign secretary, visited Nepal as a priority under the 'Neighborhood First' policy of the Indian government. Every high-level tour in Nepal is covered by South Block. Naturally, Nepal's foreign minister made a priority visit to India, marking a positive and perhaps auspicious start to bilateral relations.

The foreign secretary's visit was 'introductory' while the foreign minister's visit was for its high-level continuation and identification of bilateral issues and 'tone setting' to move them forward. Perhaps, these two visits have laid the groundwork for a new understanding between Prime Minister Oli and Indian Prime Minister Modi. When this is proven in 'action' rather than expression, public relations are more warm.

When Foreign Minister Rana was making a statement at the airport of Nepal that the visit was fruitful, at that time an agreement was being made between the Chinese government and the Nepalese government to carry out some important works of bilateral interest. It was learned that Yang Weihun, Vice President of China's International Development Cooperation Agency, had visited Nepal, when four agreements were exchanged, including studying the feasibility of upgrading the Humla Pass to Simikot road section connecting China to two lanes.

Agreement on the feasibility study of ICP and ICD construction at Mustang-Korla crossing, Arani highway maintenance and landslide control works, and an agreement to extend the second section of Kathmandu ring road was also signed between Nepal and China. Besides, when Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel asked China for additional assistance in infrastructure construction of Veer Hospital, Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology by studying infrastructure construction feasibility and preparing DPR and infrastructure construction, the Chinese side replied that they will proceed with the process. Diplomacy does not have the language of 'yes or no', so verbal commitments in the project should be implemented through agreements.

The Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led government welcomed the South's foreign secretary to Kathmandu a week after welcoming the Vice President of China's International Cooperation Agency. And, on the day Minister Rana returned, these above-mentioned agreements were signed between China and Nepal. It is appropriate to understand this as a diplomatic balance carried out with the interests of Nepal at the center.

If India and China compete for Nepal's development, Nepal should welcome it. But there should be a healthy competition guided by the objective of advancing the priority projects set by Nepal. Nepal does not accept the idea of ​​making Nepal a strategic battleground between each other. India should not hesitate to ask for help from China or China should not hesitate to ask for help from India. Nepal is not so weak that if its neighbors want it, the power of Kathmandu can do it quickly.

Not only the exchange of visits between India and China, but the agreement/agreement was in progress, the government on August 6 released the ban imposed on Tiktok by the cabinet. Anyone is free to draw a geopolitical angle on the ban and release of TikTok, but interpreting it as an external preference or inclination of the government does not lead to the correct conclusion. For a moment, one can say that the government lifted the ban on the Chinese Bite Dance company Tiktok and the agreement to move forward with China on an important project created a favorable environment for Beijing. But with the formation of a new government, what do you think of the exchange of high-level visits between Kathmandu and Delhi?

Nepal's foreign minister's first visit to India and how to interpret the importance given by Delhi, including the export of 251 megawatts of electricity to India? Rather than looking for the preference or attachment of the current government in Delhi or Beijing, it is more appropriate to seek partnership and camaraderie with both of them on the basis of need. Because whenever Oli has become the prime minister, the relationship of practical balance with the neighbors has been maintained. Wherever he goes to China, India and America, Oli has represented the Nepali spirit. That is proven by looking at his past three terms.

This article has tried to analyze the possible scenario in bilateral relations by referring to Foreign Minister Rana's visit to India. First, let's look at the gist of the tour. A statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Northern Division on 19 August (August 3) at the end of the official visit mentioned 7 points. It is mentioned that the review of progress in bilateral initiatives and development projects as well as opportunities for further cooperation in existing and new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation were discussed.

Projects in Nepal with the help of India have gained speed, for example, projects related to infrastructure, inland railways, roads and bridges, integrated check posts, petroleum lines and digital financial connectivity have been presented.

Similarly, it is also mentioned that now Nepal can export about 1000 megawatts of electricity to India and this will generate income for Nepal and create more sources of clean energy for India. An agreement has already been reached between Nepal and India to export 10,000 megawatts of electricity to India in ten years. It is positive to mention the development in bilateral relations by the Government of India and list it as progress. It is also positive to have an agreement to resolve all the issues raised in the meeting with Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister Jaishankar through diplomatic dialogue.

Greater than that, Foreign Minister Rana's visit to India was focused solely on charting a renewed roadmap for bilateral relations. Because when they tried to forcefully establish the comment that Delhi is looking at the change of power in Kathmandu from an angle of apprehension, it was necessary for both powers to understand each other directly and at a high level and to establish direct contact at that level. That has happened.

Second, external prioritization through behavior. It has been proven that the priority of Nepal's foreign policy and behavior is its neighbors. When the Indian Foreign Secretary visits Nepal as his priority, Nepal should have given the message that India is a priority. That is why the foreign minister has visited a higher level and conveyed the message of the Oli government's policy.

Whether the economic status of the countries is equal or not, diplomatic visits are based on 'reciprocity', it is different that it is not seen in practice. Not only UML, but also in the manifesto of Nepali Congress, the first priority of Nepal's foreign relations is India and China, which is also geopolitical inevitability and strategy. The strategic desires and interests of the powerful nations may be at the same level, but the growing interest of Delhi and Beijing towards Kathmandu shows that Nepal is a priority for both India and China.

No matter how many ideals he writes, he must live with reality. When the belief that there is more than one truth over the truth has come into use, now there is no choice but to quickly understand the truth that India and China are the source of Nepal's development potential and set policies accordingly and increase relations. That does not mean that the US, the European Union, Japan, Korea or other emerging economies should be ignored and devalued.

Domestic political rivalries, accusations and conspiracy theories, such as pawns of foreign powers to eliminate or undermine each other, may lead to war of words, but they are a common feature of the Third and Fourth Worlds, until proven otherwise. Those who do not have confidence in themselves, those who arrange crutches for the journey to the south and north, have made the welcome and respect given to the foreign minister by India a basis of political self-righteousness against the prime minister. It will be limited to Atmarati. It is appropriate to understand that the honor given to the Foreign Minister is the same as the honor given to the Prime Minister.

restored understanding

In the changing global politics, Modi-led India is trying to play the role of 'neutrality' by making Indian interests the main issue in the world. The latest example of this is the policy taken by Modi in the Russia-Ukraine war, Palestine-Hamas war, in which he has given the message that there is no alternative to resolving these wars through dialogue. Not only that, there have been media reports to the extent that Modi has an ambitious idea of ​​mediating the geopolitical balance or more than that in the Russia-Ukraine war. At a glance, it seems that India is playing a role of comparative neutrality, leading the Global South among the emerging powers in the global alliance that looks like America vs. China-Russia in a complex world issue.

With the start of the third term, Modi seems to have taken a sensible policy from international issues to neighboring relations and issues, the signs of which are being manifested in various ways. If this sensible policy is included as part of his ongoing neighborhood policy, it should be welcomed. As Modi has given importance to Nepal's foreign minister, naturally, Prime Minister Oli will have a higher level of importance in Delhi. Also, Prime Minister Modi has accepted Prime Minister Oli's invitation to visit Nepal, which will also start a new exercise.

Prime Minister Modi has also given a message to Foreign Minister Rana, who went with Prime Minister Oli's message and the official letter of his visit to Nepal, that he will visit at an appropriate time. With Nepal having a relatively strong and stable government and being 'relatively weak' in domestic politics (even now he is powerful in foreign politics), he will try to keep neighboring countries within his sphere of influence.

But in doing so, cooperation and cooperation based on mutual respect are needed rather than favorably influencing the internal politics of neighboring countries. Modi understands the evolving politics in the South Asian region, from the Maldives to now Bangladesh, and the three's approach to New Delhi. Kathmandu is not looking for a new version of bigotry, but a new form of friendship. That should be reflected in both policy and practice.