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Prachanda says pacts with India not to hit China ties
Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘ Prachanda’, who returned from a visit to India on Sunday, said the signing of agreements with India will not affect bilateral ties with China.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘ Prachanda’, who returned from a visit to India on Sunday, said the signing of agreements with India will not affect bilateral ties with China.
“We have maintained balanced relations with both of our neighbours,” he told reporters at Tribhuvan International Airport here upon arrival from India, adding that his visit was highly successful.
“Our ties and partnership with India will not affect our bilateral ties with China,” he said.“The dynamics of our relations with India and China are different so our ties with India would not create distance with China.”
Prachanda’s remarks came amid criticism in some quarters that his government has a “Delhi tilt” and acrimonious relations with China.
Pachanda said that Nepal has maintained balanced and nuanced relations with both neighbours.
“The aim of my visit was to create an environment for sub-regional cooperation which India is also pursuing,” he said.
India has given special attention to issues of mutual interest and concern, Prachanda said, adding that work related to common interests and welfare would be carried out together.
He said the Indian government was ready to support Nepal in hydropower, physical infrastructure and tourism sectors.
Prachanda is facing flak for the joint communique issued during his visit, particularly the reference to Nepal supporting India’s candidature for permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
Some experts of international relations and political parties opposed this, saying it undermines Nepal’s independent foreign policy.
The way the joint communiqué was issued and its content has made us bow our head, said former prime minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, K P Sharma Oli.
UML also opposed India’s position on Nepal’s constitution and joint monitoring of India-funded projects by Indian embassy officials and Nepal government. Indian embassy officials and Nepal government cannot be put into equal footing, it argued.
