China is the passionate brethren of Nepal. This is the pleasure of we Nepalese to embrace to welcome the President of the People’s Republic China Mr. Xi Jin Ping today. This is the initiation to enhance peace and prosperity together with dignity not only in this region but also in the global. China, collaborating and compassionate for the greater cause of humanity together with all the stockholders beyond the geographical and cultural frontiers. President Xi Jin Ping is not only the visionary leader but also a man of passion with compassion and humanity.

Nepali Culture: Guest is the God

In the Nepali culture guest consideration as the god. This is the values and tradition. This is one of the most important essences of cultural values. The brethren, guest, and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jin Ping, for the compassion, respected to the full of the dignity and the beings to enhance humane. It is the cultural norms. We know that we keep our home environment clean and peaceful always. Keeping the courtyard clean in any special cultural festivals and on the occasion of welcoming the guests is also our cultural value. Flowing this tradition and value now the capital city Kathmandu is clean and peaceful to warm welcome to the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jin Ping.

Collaborative initiatives with Xi Jin Ping’s visit

The president Xi Jin Ping envision a collaborative and cooperative sense of coexistence respecting dignity and values with the communities in the world. This is the essence of Xi Jin Ping thoughts and it’s very important to this world. Belt and Road Initiative is the way to proact for the global development.

Nepal is a landlocked country. The country endorses a transit treaty with China in the recent days specifically after the embargo from India, Particularly after the inauguration of the constitution in 2015. It needed Infrastructure development, however, it was not possible from a state point of view, for that very reasons we needed cooperation and collaboration. This initiative not only mediated and facilitated with the historical visit of President Xi Jin Ping and the Chinese love and passion. I hope this will facilitate access to the north, and to the world. The BRI is the most important connectivity not only to China and India but also to the world, not only by the terrestrial networks but also to the sea. This railway to access through the Himalayan corridor is the most important to the south Asian communities, but also its a global initiative for peace and prosperity. Geopolitics engaged with such endeavors not only go beyond the frontiers but also permeated through other endeavors. However, the perspect entailed so far with the geopolitical and international relations. It is one of the most important connectivity in the world not only for the economic development but also for the human security and peace. Enabling connectivity in which China and Nepal overland transportation network impacts the international relations East Asia, Middle East, South Asia, West Asia the trade with the Indian continent is assured. Despite, one of the opinions is that BRI might corrugate the Nepalese and Indian relations adversely.

This is why this is the dream. To materialize this dream now the communities, China and Nepal are collaborating. This connectivity not only transforms the lives of South Asia, global humanity. Connectivity is the key of the economic development. In the contemporary world, trade is more important than politics. How we learn from the Chinese is that first develop the economic foundation, then prosperity is possible. There will be peace and we can live with peace together with prosperity.

We are talking about the construct Lhasa-Kerung railway line. India also wants to use this railway line for trade with Europe, the Middle East, and West Asia. At that point, Nepal will be a transit point in this region. That’s why this railway line will be a beautiful opportunity for Nepal. Communist Party of China also knows that the gate of Nepal has to be opened to make south Asia prosperous. We know very well what is our priority and what the important role of Nepal regarding the BRI. We also know that, according to our foreign policy, we have to balance our neighbors based on our national interests. Our current government is very clear and conscious on it.

BRI and President Xi’s visit to Nepal

BRI is the initiative to collaborate and cooperate with all the neighbors. Till date, there are two types of model experiences by humankind. The one is to earn, at the same time demolished the others. Next, mutual collaboration and coexistence is the basis of the conduct. The first model imposes hegemony. That not prevails, nor prosperity. It only makes many hungry, whereas some fulfill. We are happy to see the second vision of the Chinese leadership.

It is important to have regional peace if you want global peace purposely. We joined with the BRI in 2017. It’s was late but now the situation is very good for work on it. We have a stable government and strong leadership as well.

BRI and the others

At the beginning it was impossible to conduct the railway system from Qing Hai to Lhasa by many western foreigners, however, Chinese knowledge, skill, and technology embark on it to make it successful it now running on full phase. That is the landmark to recognized Chinese skill and technology in the world. It’s getting a high global credential.

Still, we have discourses in Nepal and India about the prospect of BRI is one of the ambitious projects to indept around the world. My point in this regard is that BRI is within the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and whereas Asian Development Bank and World Bank in the other side. Let see these two perspectives. What are the toms and conditions? However, do you see any toms and conditions of the BRI? We can compare by the interest rate from World Bank, ADB, and BRI. It’s a great difference. For that reason and many others, it is fictitious. These ways are only to enhance president Xi might help create a positive attitude to get through BRI a collaborative mutual development and peace. Positive attitude and implementation with faith might be a paradigm shift not only development of the Nepalese communities but also to the region and the world. For that many reasons and the others, President Xi Jin Ping’s visit to Nepal is one of the important milestones.

About the writer: Ganga Prasad Upreti is currently the chancellor of Nepal Academy. The academy is a national institution of Nepal for the promotion of the languages, literature, culture, philosophy and social sciences of Nepal. The academy commissions research and aims to promote the development of cultural and intellectual endeavors by coordinating national and international activities. He was the former chief of the World Language College, Kathmandu. He has written more than a dozen books including about Nepal China relations.