Unbreakable relationship with China, India's false media report will have no effect: Nepal

Kathmandu, Ta. 28 September 2020, Monday

Nepal's relations with China have been developing over the past several days. On the other hand, Nepal's border dispute with India is getting darker.

Nepal's role in the ongoing border dispute between India and China is becoming more important. All experts believe that China's growing presence in Nepal is a threat to India's security.

In the midst of all this, Nepal's ambassador to China, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, in an interview to Chinese media on Sunday, targeted the Indian media, saying that despite all efforts, the Indian media could not harm Nepal-China relations.

Nepal and China are good neighbors and friends too. The two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1955. As Nepal's new ambassador to China, my priority is the agreements reached between the two countries.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Nepal and it was a success. About 20 agreements were signed. Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and President Vidya Devi Bhandari also visited China and signed some agreements. That is why it is my priority to work on these agreements as soon as possible.

Last year we started some projects under the Belt and Road project. The project deals with education, health, infrastructure and the environment. These topics will be my priority during my tenure in China.

China's state-run newspaper asked the Nepalese ambassador if some foreign media, especially the Indian media, said that the close friendship between China and Nepal was a security threat. In response, the Nepalese ambassador said, "These are not facts, but prejudices." This is a sign of fear. India was a subcontinent, while Nepal has always been an independent and sovereign country. We are not affiliated with any ideology or power.

He further said that the Indian media is motivated by prejudice and misleading, which is why they are publishing such false rumors, but this is not true. China-Nepal relations are natural and friendly.

This is not a question of area, but of understanding and mutual help. China and India are neighbors and we should not be afraid of each other, but we should join hands and try to enhance cooperation by developing mutual understanding.