Nepal FM pitches India-China bridge strategy
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- Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the country aims to transform from a landlocked nation into a 'vibrant, dynamic bridge' connecting India and China, speaking at a two-day international conference on Friday.
- Khanal's remarks came at the 'China and South Asia in a Multipolar World' conference, jointly organised by Fudan University's Centre for South Asian Studies and the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement.
- Nepal's new government under Prime Minister Balendra Shah has pursued balanced foreign policy toward both neighbors, placing greater emphasis on economic diplomacy, investment, and connectivity than previous administrations.
- Khanal committed to strengthening ties with both India and China based on 'sovereign equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit, and sensitivity to each other's legitimate interests and concerns.'
- Khanal's back-to-back visits to New Delhi and Beijing in June were an early indication of Kathmandu's balanced approach, with him describing both countries as 'vital partners' for the Himalayan nation.
- Khanal called economic diplomacy 'one of the defining priorities' of Nepal's external engagement, aimed at improving lives through trade, investment, employment, tourism, technology, and sustainable development.
Why it matters: Nepal's bridge framing positions Kathmandu to pursue trade, investment, and connectivity deals with both India and China simultaneously — a structural advantage for a landlocked nation whose economic diplomacy Khanal called 'one of the defining priorities' of its foreign policy.
