Nepal Foreign Minister Calls for Balanced Ties and Ecological Cooperation

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal declared that Kathmandu will maintain independent ties with both India and China, refusing to prioritize one neighbor over the other. Speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, Khanal used a family analogy, stating that Nepal cannot replace a father with a mother to describe the distinct significance of its relationships with the two powers. While acknowledging China's economic presence, he noted that India remains Nepal's largest trading partner, accounting for two-thirds of its total trade, and criticized China's Belt and Road Initiative for providing zero dollars to Nepal over the last decade.

Khanal downplayed the territorial dispute over the Lipulekh Pass, characterizing the row as not as big as it is often made out to be in narratives. The dispute centers on claims by Nepal under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, which the Ministry of External Affairs of India has rejected as an artificial enlargement of territorial claims not based on historical facts. While Nepal previously sought international mediation involving China or the United Kingdom, the government now favors bilateral mechanisms to focus on economic transformation.

Following devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River that killed nearly 300 people, Khanal urged India, China, Nepal, and Bhutan to redefine their relationships in ecological terms. He argued that the fragility of the Himalayan ecosystem necessitates cooperation for shared survival, regardless of political rivalries. Khanal invited Indian private-sector investment in technology, tourism, and energy to further strengthen bilateral ties.