As the year 2024 draws to a close, China and Nepal are taking significant steps to strengthen their long-standing friendship and boost economic ties. Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is set to visit China starting Monday, aiming to explore new prospects for bilateral relations. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba is already in Sichuan Province attending the 5th China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Oli’s delegation includes around 48 private sector representatives, signaling a mutual interest in expanding trade between the two nations. In a move that promises to enhance this cooperation, China has decided to grant zero-tariff treatment to all tariff items from the least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China, including Nepal. This initiative, announced by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, will open doors for more Nepalese specialty products to enter the Chinese market.
Trade between the two countries is already on the rise. Garments, footwear, electronics, smartphones, and electric vehicles are among the goods imported from China through the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border crossings, especially ahead of Nepal’s major festivals Dashain and Tihar. According to Rabindra Prasad Pyakurel, information officer at the Rasuwa Customs Office, there has been significant growth in trade through the Rasuwagadhi border point in recent months.
In the first two months of Nepal’s current fiscal year starting in mid-July, trade through the border routes saw a remarkable 70% increase. This surge reflects the strong momentum in economic collaboration and the benefits of the zero-tariff policy.
Beyond trade, China and Nepal share a deep-rooted people-to-people relationship that spans thousands of years. Both nations boast rich histories and cultures, embracing virtues like compassion, honesty, and harmony, as taught by figures like Shakyamuni Buddha and Confucius. Since establishing diplomatic relations on August 1, 1955, the two countries have continued to foster close ties.
Educational exchanges have played a vital role in strengthening this bond. Recently, 220 Nepali students received the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship for 2024. Over the past two decades, nearly 1,000 volunteer teachers from China have taught over 300,000 Nepali students, promoting cultural understanding and friendship.
Cultural events, such as the Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival, further enhance mutual appreciation and tourism cooperation. These initiatives contribute to building a closer China-Nepal community with a shared future. As Wang Xin, counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, remarked, such events “push our cross-Himalayan friendship to a new height.”
With zero tariffs and ongoing collaboration, China and Nepal are poised to deepen their partnership, bringing prosperity and closer ties to both nations.
Reference(s):
China-Nepal ties: Strong friendship, zero tariffs, shared future
cgtn.com
