The month of June witnessed significant visits from foreign envoys. The much anticipated visit of the Prime Minister (PM) to India ended with favorable economic accomplishments. Three sets of Nepali delegation headed to China for political exchanges and official visit respectively. Nepal established formal diplomatic tie with Marshall Island and Republic of Cameroon summing-up Nepal’s diplomatic terrain to a total of 181 countries.

Timeline of Major Events

Date	Events
May 31st to June 3rd	Official visit of PM Puspha Kamal Dahal and his delegation to India
June 11th  to June 19th	National assembly chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina and his team visited China
June 27th to July 2nd	Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha and his delegation visited China
June 8th	Nepal elected as the United Nation’s Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) member

Nepal – India

Implications of the Prime Minister’s Visit

Prime Minister (PM) Dahal’s path-breaking visit to India on May/June has brought many economic perks in favor of Nepal. During the visit, PM Dahal cracked a number of agreements; power trade being the prime one. This is of much significance because Nepal has been awaiting approval from India as early as August 2021. Both the sides abstained from bringing up the controversial issues – the border dispute being a prominent one, and went to great lengths focusing on the economic side. Neglecting hard issues like political, border and strategic; soft issues such as trade and connectivity took up the stage. During Prime Minister Modi’s 2014 visit to Nepal, he coined the term HIT focusing on Highways, Infoways, and Transways. The newly signed deals on cross-border digital payment and renewal of the Transit Treaty seem to have revived the old acronym coined on 2014. Also, the Nepal-India Energy Deal of 10,000 MW has reached the Council of Ministers of India, and is awaiting the Indian cabinet’s endorsement.

The visit also reflected the great level of political trust as epitomized by Modi’s announcement on border issues to be resolved through dialogues. Controversial issues like border disputes demand long-term dialogues and negotiation, and considerable preparation from both the sides. Avoiding the political irritants and moving towards economic bonhomie seems to be in interest of both India and Nepal. If successfully implemented, the signed agreements could bring a major economic breakthrough in Nepal. 
 

Controversy Surrounding the Mural

The new parliamentary building of India unveiled a mural map of Akhand Bharat or Undivided India that showcases the Indian subcontinent during the Ashoka Empire. The map unveiled during the parliament building inauguration has become a source of controversy in Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The mural has some areas of Nepal namely Lumbini, and Kapilvastu, indicating India’s claim over the birth place of Gautam Buddha. Along with irking Nepal, such act also might stir diplomatic tensions between Nepal and India. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu has requested the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi to ask for clarifications regarding the same. The Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh has also sought for answers from the Indian Foreign Ministry. Although India repetitively claims the map to be historical, and not a political one, it has been a source of dissent in Nepal. Issues like boundaries and map have deep historical and cultural roots and thus require long-term and continuing negotiation.

Nepal – China

Political Visit Intensification

Within a span of a month, four Nepali delegation embarked on the visit to China. On May 19^th, Agni Sapkota and his 20-member team visited China for “inter party exchanges program.” Soon after his return, three sets of Nepali delegation departed for China. Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, National Assembly Chairman visited China from June 11^th to 19^th. Mr. Timilsina led the delegation to take part in the Fifth China-Tibet Tourism and Cultural Expo held in Lhasa. He met the Chairman of China’s People’s Congress, Zhao Leji, wherein Leji had pledged to intensify legislative cooperation. Similarly, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal headed for China on June 19^th. The purpose of visit was to attend 13^th Xinjiang-Kashi-Central Asia and South Asia Commodity Fair organized by the Kashi Prefecture Administration of China. Further, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, and his delegation went on five-days visit to China on June 27^th.

The increasing Chinese engagements reflects the willingness of China to fill up the void that have been created after the split of Nepal Communist Party (NCP). As a result of political vacuum created with the split of NCP, China seems to have started its engagement with wider political parties. There has been active engagement of Chinese Ambassador Chen Song in Nepal’s political scenario resulting in a hike in Chinese engagement in Nepal. With a similar morale of increasing its clout and influence, China might try to engage through the new Socialist Front in Nepal, in its spirt of filling up the existing political vacuum. The newly formed socialist front in June 19^th vows of creating a socialist state with democratic, republican and federal characteristics.

China’s False Claims Pertaining BRI Projects

In spite of plethora of high level and official visits to and from China, the fate of BRI remains in limbo. While addressing Upper House, Foreign Minister NP Saud expressed the delay in implementation of BRI projects, as not a single has been executed. On the flip side, China has been repeatedly making false claims regarding BRI projects. Not long ago China claimed Pokhara International Airport as being part of BRI project. Adding fuss, Ambassador Chen Song tweeted that the Wechat Cross-board Payment Service Inauguration in Nepal is also a part of the BRI initiative.

Only nine projects were enlisted as BRI projects in Nepal, and China’s fake claim to other projects as BRI has been a big surprise to Nepal. Nepal-China relations has been limited to visits and exchanges from Nepal side, however the Chinese have been reciprocating with dishonest pledges as mentioned above. Like every great power aspiration, China’s claim to BRI might be to exert influence, and showcase its engagement and visibility in Nepal. Perhaps, Nepal’s increasing cooperation with India could have irked China, thus resulting in their false claims. Such attitude could greatly hamper the diplomatic relations between Nepal and China.

Chinese Public Diplomacy Stirs Controversy vis-à-vis GCI

As China seems to lose its ground in Nepal, it has been exploring the ways of engagement in new forms. On June 21^st, a chartered flight from China arrived at Pokhara International Airport carrying National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Timilsina and Chinese players for the Dragon Boat Festival. On June 22^nd, Ambassador Chen Song controversially twitted Dragon Boat Festival in Nepal as being part of Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). 

The White Dagoba Miaoying Temple build by Nepali architect Araniko reflects century old Nepal-China relations. In an interview with Global Times, Ambassador Chen Song has wrongly stated that Nepalese embassy in China is committed towards GCI. While it is making one sided claim to GCI, Nepal hasn’t received any formal request from Beijing regarding the same. Such controversial statements in media only reflects the Chinese tendency of pushing its agenda. Although Government of Nepal (GoN) has been raising its concern over China’s repetitive claims on BRI and GCI, it requires a negotiation with China at a deeper level.  
   

Nepali Soldiers Joins Russia’s Army

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has been ongoing for more than a year, and now has become a matter of concern in Nepal. After having served for a year in Russian military, Russia is now luring the foreign soldiers by allowing them easy access to Russian citizenship, during the month of May. Russia has illegally appointed the Nepali soldiers without prior information to the GoN. As per the 1947 Tripartite Agreement between India, Nepal, and the UK, Nepali citizens can only be recruited in Indian and British Army. Nepali soldiers going to Russian Armed Forces without any formal channels would be against Nepal’s stance on non-alignment, and Nepal’s position against Russian aggression in Ukraine at the UN votes in March 2022. It is also a matter of geopolitical concern for Nepal.
 

Nepal elected as Economic & Social Council

(ECOSOC) Member

Along with Pakistan and Japan, Nepal has been elected as United Nations’ ECOSOC member representing Asia Pacific region on June 8^th, 2023. Beginning from January 2024, Nepal shall serve for three years term. This would act as the platform for Nepal to lead the work of UN development system and advocate on the issues pertaining to the LDCs. Lately, Nepal’s presence and credibility in the UN system has been going incredibly well with its representation at the Human Right Council, Chair of LDC, and ECOSOC member. H. E. Amrit Bahadur Rai showcased an incredible leadership during his Ambassadorship and Permanent Representation of Nepal to the United Nations since March 4^th 2019 to July 2^nd 2023.
 

USAID Auditor General Support Activity

On June 16th, USAID and Office of the Auditor General Nepal (OAG/N) launched the Auditor General Support Activity. It is a new project under 5 year-long USAID agreement and part of regular USAID grant to Nepal. It was signed on the occasion of USAID Counselor, Clinton White’s three-day visit to Nepal. The main objective of the collaboration is to ensure the transparency, accountability, and integrity in Nepal’s governance and provide training and technical assistance to the OAG/N to enhance the quality of audit.
 

Robert Floyd Convinces Nepal to

Ratify CTBT

Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) visited different countries from Africa to Asia. He was in Nepal for three days from June 5^th to 7^th. Nepal has committed its support for Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and expressed that the CTBT’s ratification procedure shall begin in the Parliament soon.