Nepal can be a bridging nation: PM

by LEKHANATH PANDEY
Himalayan Times

We have to redefine the traditional thought of Nepal as a 'yam between two boulders' laid down by Prithvi Narayan Shah
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today said Nepal has to pull itself out of the longstanding traditional foreign policy concept of the ‘buffer state’ initiated by the former Royals, and should redirect its effort toward making Nepal a ‘vibrant bridging state’ of South Asia and East Asia.

Talking to some selected journalists, a day after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit, at his official residence in Baluwatar today, Bhattarai said, “Due to its specific strategic location, Nepal could, should and would be a vibrant bridging state not only between India and China, but also of entire South Asia and East Asia.”

Pointing out that international power balance has gradually been shifting towards this region, he said, “In this context, we have to redefine the traditional thought of Nepal as a ‘yam between to boulders’ laid down by feudal king Prithvi Narayan Shah, though it was contextual in his era.”

According to him, only cordial and balanced ties with our giant neighbours, India and China, could translate the vision into reality. He, however, did not forget to mention that Nepal’s historical tilt towards its southern neighbour was evident, and would continue for some time due to historical, cultural, geographical and economic factors.

He made it clear that the view of one person, one government or one party could not materialize the concept. “All persons, governments and parties have to maintain unanimous view on foreign policy matters,” he stated, referring to non-unanimity among national stakeholders on most challenging policy issues.

Bhattarai has shared the ‘bridging nation’ idea with both the Chinese and Indian establishments and intelligentsia and has received positive feedback. He even incorporated the concept in his speeches at the UN General Assembly and SAARC Summit.

“I shared this idea with visiting Chinese premier Wen Jiabao yesterday. He fully agreed and even encouraged Nepal to uphold and strengthen cordial bilateral ties with India,” he said.

When asked how Nepal could be a bridging state and what his vision was, the PM said there should be physical connectivity — rail and road links — with both southern and northern neighbours, special economic zones should be set up and huge Chinese, Indian and American investors should be attracted to hydropower, tourism and cultural sectors.

“We have asked Chinese help in building a Special Economic Zone in Kavre. Similarly, we have a vision of building such zones in Mahendranagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa. Goods produced in the northern area could be exported to China and products of the Tarai’s SEZs could be export to India.” he explained.

He also said the concept of making only Lumbini a Buddhist cultural destination was not appropriate. “Lumbini, along with Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Bodh Gaya of India should be developed as cultural destinations in an integrated way,” he said, “In this way; Nepal could be a cultural bridging state for China and India.”

Viewing India, China and United States as nations that matter the most to Nepal, Bhattarai said his government had gained the trust and confidence of the establishment and private sectors of all three countries, which he attributed to his liberal-economic policy. “So, Wen Jiabao visited Nepal at this juncture after finding commonalities between the Chinese economic view and mine,” he claimed, adding that our foreign policy will fail if we cannot link it up with our economic policy.

He has the vision of establishing two independent think tanks — Institute of Strategic Studies and Foreign Affairs, and Institute of Economic and Development Studies to translate new foreign policy measures into action and link it with the economy. “Let the government assist such institutions financially, but let them work independently,” the PM said.