Nepal’s foreign minister Shisir Khanal refused to pick sides when asked about how he sees the country’s ties with China and India. The minister said that both relationships are significant from their own standpoints and he wouldn’t want to choose one over the other.
“We do not want to supplement one with the other (relationships with China and India). I would not want to tell my father that I’ll replace you with the mother or the mother with the father,” Khanal said during an NDTV event in Kathmandu. He said that Nepal runs on an emotional side but views foreign policy more rationally, thus considering both India and China as important neighbours.
When asked about China’s increased economic presence in Nepal, Khanal said: “Two-thirds of Nepal’s entire trade is with India.”
Nepal downplays border row with India
During the same interaction, Shisir Khanal also downplayed Nepal’s border row with India, stating that it is “not as big as it is made out to be”.
“Only neighbours will have boundary problems. If you’re not a neighbour, you would not have that problem. I mean, we have very open borders. It’s unique in the world. People can just walk without any paper, pretty much,” Khanal said at the same NDTV event.
Notably, China also factors in in India and Nepal’s border issues.
Earlier this year, Nepal renewed its territorial claim over Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and had raised objections to India and China’s plan to conduct the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass.
The Yatra is a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. The Lipulekh Pass is situated at the trijunction of India, Nepal and China.
Nepal flood fury
Khanal’s latest remarks on ties with India and China come at time when Nepal is grappling with the aftermath of massive flash floods that hit Nepal’s Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers.
Over 300 people have died and many more are missing.
Some destruction was also seen on the Chinese side. China is in close contact with Nepal over search and rescue efforts and is also keeping the relevant embassies informed.
About 100 missing Indian nationals have reportedly been located, with nearly 800 people still out of reach.
