Nepal-China Joint Seminar on Strategic Partnership and Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Policy Research Institute (PRI) and the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (NIIS-CASS)
Kathmandu, Nepal
A joint seminar was held in Kathmandu through the collaboration of the Policy Research Institute (PRI), the official think tank of the Government of Nepal, and the National Institute of International Strategy (NIIS) under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Themed “Moving Towards a Shared Future: Review and Prospects for the Nepal-China Strategic Partnership of Cooperation,” the event commemorated the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China.
The seminar brought together a diverse group of participants including government officials, policy experts, academics, and strategic affairs professionals from Nepal and China. The aim was to foster an academic exchange on the historical development, current dynamics, and future directions of Nepal-China relations.
Inaugural Session
Chief Guest Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, the Foreign Secretary of Nepal, emphasized the friendly and multifaceted nature of Nepal-China ties, which are rooted in the Panchsheel—five principles of peaceful coexistence.
Prof. Dr. Lekhnath Sharma, Executive Chairperson of PRI, highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships and academic cooperation. He advocated for a multilayered diplomatic framework encompassing bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral engagement.
Mr. Wang Xin, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, reaffirmed China’s commitment to community-focused development initiatives aligned with the vision of a shared global future. Dr. Shen Minghui, head of the NIIS delegation, introduced NIIS’s institutional priorities and emphasized the value of cross-border academic collaboration.
MoU Signing Ceremony
Before the seminar, PRI and NIIS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their collaboration. Key areas of cooperation include the exchange of publications, joint research projects, bilateral seminars, and academic exchange visits.
Session I: Review of Nepal-China Partnership of Cooperation
Moderated by Dr. Khaga Nath Adhikari, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Center for Foreign Policy and Strategic Affairs at PRI, the first session of the seminar assessed the current state of the Nepal-China strategic partnership.
- Dr. Jham Kumar Bishwakarma (PRI) provided a thorough review of the historical and economic ties between the two nations.
- Dr. Wu Zhaoli (NIIS) focused on the evolution of political and economic relations, emphasizing high-level bilateral exchanges.
- Ms. Apekshya Shah (Tribhuvan University) discussed the academic relevance of clear communication and mutual expectations in the bilateral relationship.
- Dr. Sun Xihui (NIIS) emphasized the importance of understanding each other’s evolving political, social, and economic contexts, noting that a strategic partnership represents the highest tier of China’s diplomatic relationships.
- Dr. Dinesh Bhattarai, former ambassador and member of the Nepal Council of World Affairs, suggested assessing strategic partnerships through the lenses of economic benefits, global influence, and national security.
Dr. Adhikari concluded the session by summarizing key insights into the enduring political, social, and economic ties between the two countries, which are grounded in neighborhood relations and mutual respect.
Session II: Prospects for Nepal-China Strategic Partnership
The second session, moderated by Dr. Yang Xiaoping (NIIS), explored the forward-looking dimensions of the bilateral strategic partnership.
- Dr. Zhang Qianyu (NIIS) analyzed Nepal’s evolving role in China’s neighborhood diplomacy, identifying areas for enhanced cooperation, including trade, infrastructure, hydropower diversification, and sustainable development.
- Dr. Hari Prakash Chand introduced a theoretical model for strategic partnerships involving three arenas (political, social, economic) and three orientations (bilateral, trilateral, multilateral). He also examined the feasibility of adopting a 3-4-3 model, in line with President Xi Jinping’s proposed dimensions for elevated cooperation.
- Dr. Mahesh Kumar Maskey, former Nepali ambassador to China, discussed the importance of Nepal’s sovereignty and policy independence and distinguished a strategic partnership from a military alliance.
- Dr. Zhang Song (NIIS) explored the economic prospects of Nepal-China trade and investment, highlighting geographic proximity and complementary interests.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion and a summary by Dr. Yang.
Closing Remarks
Prof. Dr. Lekhnath Sharma concluded the event by expressing gratitude to the organizers, presenters, reviewers, and participants. He noted that the seminar provided a platform for meaningful dialogue and revealed new possibilities for the future. He stressed the need for ongoing research and policy dialogue to achieve the vision of a shared future between Nepal and China.
PARTICIPANTS
Guests (China):
Mr. Wang Xin (Deputy Chief of Mission, Chinese Embassy)
Prof. Dr. Shen Minghui (Vice-Director, NISS-CASS)
Dr. Wu Zhaoli (Associate Professor, NISS-CASS)
Dr. Sun Xihui (Associate Professor, NISS-CASS)
Dr. Yang Xiaoping (Associate Professor, NISS-CASS)
Dr. Zhang Qianyu (Associate Professor, NISS-CASS)
Dr. Zhang Song (Associate Professor, NISS-CASS)
Mr. Li Chengze (Chinese Embassy)
Ms. Wu Shengnon (Chinese Embassy)
Guests (Nepal):
Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai (Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Mr. Prakash Kumar Suvedi (Executive Director, Institute of Foreign Affairs)
Dr. Khagendra Prasain (Dean, Nepal Open University)
Dr. Ishwori Prasad Kandel (Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University)
Mr. Ritesh Shah (Section Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Mr. Yam Lal Bhusal (Joint Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers)
Dr. Arjun Baral (Executive Director, Center for Economic Development and Administration, Tribhuvan University)
Ms. Apekshya Shah (Head, Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Tribhuvan University)
Dr. Mahesh Kumar Maskey (Former Ambassador of Nepal to PR China)
Dr. Lal Bahadur Pun (Head, Policy Lab, Kathmandu University School of Management)
Policy Research Institute:
Prof. Dr. Lekhnath Sharma (Executive Chairperson)
Dr. Pusparaj Rajkarnikar (Board Member)
Prof. Dr. Arvind Kumar Keshari (Board Member)
Dr. Shyamu Thapa Magar (Board Member)
Dr. Indra Kumari Adhikari (Board Member)
Laxman Prasad Bhattarai (Office Manager)
Dr. Khaganath Adhikari (Senior Research Fellow)
Dr. Hari Sharma Neupane (Senior Research Fellow)
Dr. Deepak Kumar Khadka (Senior Research Fellow)
Dr. Mukti Ram Rijal (Senior Research Fellow)
Dr. Kalpana Khanal (Senior Research Fellow)
Dr. Mohan Kumar Sharma (Senior Research Fellow)
Dr. Giri Raj Sharma (Research Fellow)
Ashok Pandey (Research Fellow)
Dr. Niranjan Devkota (Research Fellow)
Dr. Hari Prakash Chand (Research Fellow)
Dr. Subash Adhikari (Research Fellow)
Dr. Pradeep Panthi (Research Fellow)
Dr. Jham Kumar Bishwakarma (Associate Research Fellow)
Dr. Maheswar Giri (Associate Research Fellow)
Dr. Prabhat Raj Dahal (Associate Research Fellow)
Gopal Acharya (Associate Research Fellow)
Rija Manandhar (Analyst)
Soniya Bashyal (Analyst)
Bimal Chandra Sharma (Library Management Coordinator)
Subin Ulak (Graphic Designer)
Sanju Kumari Sarbariya (Senior Assistant)
Parbat Bhattarai (Senior Assistant)
Gita Neupane (Senior Assistant)
Milan Shrestha (Senior Assistant)
Ayushka K.C. (Intern)
Ashish Bhandari (Intern)
Kumari Alika (Intern)
Dhiraj Bhatta (Intern)
Juna Shrestha (Intern)
Bijaya Koirala (Intern)
Balihang Limbu (Intern)
Snehi Rijal (Intern)
Satish Sapkota (Intern)