Nepal - People's Republic of China Relations
Bilateral Relations
The history of Nepal-China relations could be traced back to the 5th century when sages and saints engaged themselves in visiting far and wide in the pursuit of knowledge and peace. The marriage of Bhrikuti to the Tibetan King, Song Sang Gampo, in the 7th century and the White Pagoda in Beijing constructed under the guidance of Nepalese architect Araniko are testimony to the historical relations between Nepal and China.
These centuries old traditional relations were formalized with the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1 August 1955. Nepal has established Consulate General's Offices in Hong Kong and Lhasa and an honorary consul has been appointed in Shanghai. Our bilateral relations have always been marked by friendliness, mutual support, understanding and appreciation of each other's aspirations and sensitivities. Both China and Nepal abide by the ideals of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. Nepal and China are supporting each other in many regional and international forums, including the United Nations. Nepal has always been upholding 'One China' policy and is committed not to allow Nepalese territory to be used against our friendly neighbor China's core interests.
Nepal and China share a long border of about 1414 km. There is no significant dispute on boundary line. The two Governments have resolved border issue amicably in 1961, and have been conducting joint inspection of the border at regular intervals.
Exchange of Visits
There have been significant exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries. These exchanges of visits have helped to further promote and consolidate our friendly and cooperative relationships. Important among the high-level visits between the two countries so far are:
Exchange of Visits from Nepal
Heads/ Dy. Heads of the State
S. N. |
Name |
Date |
Type |
Remarks |
1. |
Right Honorable Vice President Mr. Parmanand Jha |
June 4 –9 , 2013 |
Official |
In connection with the participation in the inauguration ceremony of the 1st China South Asia Exposition, Kunming,China. |
2. |
Right Honorable President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav |
October 26 – November 1, 2010 |
Goodwill |
In connection with attending the closing ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo 2010 |
3. |
The then King Gyanendra and the then Queen Komal |
April 23-26 ,2005 |
Official |
In connection with participating in the 2005 Annual Conference of Boao Forum for Asia |
4. |
The then King Gyanendra and the then Queen Komal |
July 09-18 2002 |
State |
Beijing, Dalian (Liaoning Province), Yichang (Hubei Province), Shanghai, Hong Kong. |
5. |
Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya |
Feb 26-Mar 4, 2001 |
State |
Beijing, Hainan, Shanghai. |
6. |
Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya |
Aug. 23-30, 1996 |
Private |
Beijing, Lhasa, Chongqing and Hongkong |
7. |
Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya |
Sept 20-27, 1993 |
State |
Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Shenzhen |
8. |
Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya |
Sept. 14-17, 1987 |
Official |
Lanzhou, Beijing |
9. |
Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya |
July 27-Aug3, 1982 |
Friendly |
Gansu Province and Tibet AR |
10. |
Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya |
Aug 26-29, 1979 |
Private |
En route to Havana |
11. |
Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya |
May 14-15, 1978 |
Private |
En route to Japan |
12. |
Late King Birendra |
June 2-9, 1976 |
Goodwill |
Sichuan Province and TAR |
13. |
Late King Birendra and Late Queen Aishwarya |
Dec. 7-13, 1973 |
State |
|
14. |
Late King Mahendra |
Sept. 28-Oct 15,1961 |
State |
|
Heads of the Government
Prime Ministers
1. |
Mr. Sushil Koirala |
June 5 – 6, 2014 |
Official |
Inauguration of 2nd China South Asia Exposition and 22nd China Kunming Import and Export Commodities in Kunming, China |
2. |
Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal |
Dec 26 – 31, 2009 |
Official |
|
3. |
Mr. Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ |
Aug 23-27, 2008 |
Official |
Closing Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics |
4. |
Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba |
Sept 5-12, 1998 |
|
At the Invitation of China Association for International Friendly Contact |
5. |
Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba |
April 21-28, 1996 |
Official |
|
6. |
Mr. Man Mohan Adhikari |
April 17-21, 1995 and |
Official |
|
7. |
Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala |
1993 |
|
Tibet AR |
8. |
Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala |
Mar 16-22, 1992 |
Official |
|
9. |
Mr. Kirtinidhi Bista
|
Sept 27-Oct 4, 1978 |
Official |
|
10. |
Mr. Kirti Nidhi Bista |
Nov. 15-25, 1972 |
Official |
|
11. |
Dr. Tulsi Giri as Vice Chairman/CM |
1963 |
Official |
|
12. |
Mr. Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala |
Mar 11-21, 1960 |
Official |
|
13. |
Mr. Tanka Prasad Acharya |
Sept. 25-Oct. 7, 1956 |
Official |
|
DPM/ Foreign Minister Level visit
S. N. |
Name |
Date |
Type |
Remarks |
1 |
Hon. Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister |
Sept. 14-19, 2012 |
Official |
To Participate in Nepal Cultural Festival 2012 organized by Embassy of Nepal in Beijing. |
2 |
Hon. Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister |
Nov. 22-29, 2011 |
Official |
At the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China H.E. Yang Jiechi |
3 |
Ms. Sujata Koirala, Foreign Minister |
Dec. 26-29, 2010 |
|
At the Invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister |
4 |
Ms. Sujata Koirala, Foreign Minister |
Sept. 8-13, 2010 |
Official |
To attend the activities of Nepal National Pavilion Day |
5 |
Mr. Upendra Yadav, Foreign Minister |
Apr. 05-18, 2009 |
Official |
Including TAR, Hong Kong and Macau |
6 |
Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey, the then Foreign Minister |
Aug. 13-23, 2005 |
Official |
at the invitation of hinese Foreign Minister, H. E. Mr. Li Zhaoxing |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
Mr. Chakra Prasad Bastola, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs |
Aug. 20-25, 2000 |
|
At the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Tang Jiaxuan |
Exchange of visits from China
Heads of State
1 |
President H.E.Mr. Jiang Zemin |
Dec 4-5, 1996 |
State |
|
2 |
President Li Xiannian |
Mar 19-21, 1984 |
State |
|
Heads of Government
1 |
Premier Wen Jiabao |
January 14, 2012 |
Official |
|
2 |
Premier Mr. Zhu Rongji |
May 14-16, 2001 |
Official |
|
3 |
Premier Li Peng |
Nov 19-21,1989 |
Official |
|
4 |
Premier Zhao Ziyang |
June 4-7, 1981 |
Official |
|
5 |
Premier Zhou Enlai |
Apr 26-29,1960 |
Official |
|
6 |
Premier Zhou Enlai |
June 25-29, 1957 |
Official |
|
Foreign Minister Level visit
1 |
H.E. Mr. Yang Jiechi,State Councilor |
Dec. 24-25, 2013 |
Official |
|
2 |
H.E. Mr. Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Dec. 2-4, 2008 |
|
|
3 |
H. E. Mr. Li Zhaoxing, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
31 Mar.-01 Apr. 2005 |
Official |
At the invitation of the then Foreign Minister, Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey |
4 |
Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Mr Qian Qichen |
July 19-20, 1994 |
Official |
|
5 |
Foreign Minister HE Mr. Huang Hua |
1981 |
|
|
Economic and Technical Cooperation
The Government of Peoples Republic of China has been providing assistance to the Government of Nepal under the bilateral Agreement of Economic and Technical Cooperative signed between the two countries. The first Agreement between China and Nepal on Economic Aid" signed in October 1956. Nepal and China have established Inter-Governmental Economic and Trade Committee in October 1982 as the main forum for discussion on Nepal-China bilateral economic and technical cooperation. Its regular meetings would be extremely helpful for coordinated overall interaction regarding development in Nepal.
Similarly, there are joint committees on different sectors. Regular meetings of these mechanisms help us take timely steps where necessary to mobilize our institutions to work in tandem for mutual benefit.
China has always been a steady and reliable partner in Nepal's development endeavour, more specifically in the areas of infrastructure and human resources development, education, health and food assistance, among others.
Nepal and China have signed the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation to enhance cultural exchanges and cooperation. The Year 2012 was announced as 'Nepal-China Year of Friendly Exchanges'. We also have Youth Exchange program which is instrumental in fostering utmost understanding between our peoples. Nepal has been receiving volunteer teachers for Chinese language training and also some volunteers in agriculture sector. The 100 scholarships China provides to the Nepalese students have been very useful. Nepal also extends few scholarships to Chinese nationals to learn Nepali language in Nepal.
Trade and Investment
The volume of Nepal-China trade is growing and so is the remarkably wide trade imbalance. This needs to be corrected to make our bilateral trade sustainable in the long run. Duty free access to the markets in China for Nepalese products could be one measure for narrowing this trade deficit. The following table shows the status of Nepal's trade with China in the last four years:
Value in '000 Rs
Year |
Export |
Import |
Trade Balance |
2010 |
996,989,850 |
41,057,900,250 |
-40,060,910,400 |
2011 |
761,983,271 |
51,466,423,069 |
-50,704,439,798 |
2012 |
2,507,993,748 |
69,910,833,822 |
-67,402,840,074 |
2013 |
2,042,253,520 |
68,778,185,554 |
-66,735,932,034 |
China is top most investor in Nepal and Chinese investment in Nepal is growing although it is presently lower in comparison to the need and potential. Greater Chinese involvement particularly in the fields of water resources and infrastructure building would be extremely helpful potentially leading to a win-win outcome. As of July 2012, 428 projects under Chinese investment came to operation in Nepal with investment of Rs 7860 million which helped create 26,651 jobs.
Tourism
Nepal and China have signed an agreement on Cultural Exchange in 1964 which was revised again in December 1999 to include Tourism as one of the components. We have agreed to the visa free regime for the bearers of diplomatic and official passports from each other's country. Nepal has made Chinese Yuan convertible for tourists and businessmen.
These existing agreements between Nepal and China on cultural exchanges and tourism, the Araniko Highway, and air connections from different cities of China to Kathmandu have contributed towards increasing the number of Chinese tourists coming to Nepal. Likewise, China has become an emerging tourism market for tourists coming to Nepal. In order to further promote bilateral tourism, there should be expansion of direct flights and increase in the frequency of flights between the two capitals. Cooperation between tourist authorities and travel agencies of both countries needs to be further promoted.
The following table shows the tourist arrival in Nepal from China in the past five years:
Year |
Total Number of Tourists |
Chinese Tourists |
Percentage |
Growth Rate |
2009 |
5,09,956 |
32,272 |
6.3 |
-8.23 |
2010 |
6,02,667 |
46,360 |
7.7 |
43.65 |
2011 |
7,36,215 |
61,917 |
8.4 |
33.56 |
2012 |
494019 |
42518 |
8.6 |
21.8 |
2013
|
797,759 |
89,509 |
11.22 |
24.5 |