KATHMANDU, March 15: What should be Nepal's development path? Restoring the monarchy or strengthening republicanism? A heated debate is taking place, from tea shops to town hall meetings in Kathmandu.
However, a professor from Nepal’s northern neighbor, China, has offered a clear prescription for Nepal’s progress. His three key recommendations are: National consensus over partisan conflicts, energy independence to counter potential blockades or economic embargo and rejecting aid colonialism.
These suggestions come from Prof Yunsong Huang of Sichuan University, a prestigious Chinese institution. Prof Huang is the associate dean of the School of International Studies, the coordinator of the China Center for South Asian Studies, and the deputy director of the Institute of South Asian Studies.
Prof Yunsong Huang
Speaking at the Kasthamandap Dialogue, an event organized by the Foundation for Peace, Development and Socialism in the capital on Saturday, Prof Yunsong highlighted the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for Nepal. “The path forward for Nepal is clear: the country must prioritize long-term development over political short-termism,” he advised. “It must embrace the BRI as an opportunity for growth and diversification and break free from the cycle of political instability and geopolitical manipulation.”
Regarding his three recommendations, Prof Yunsong proposed establishing a National BRI Caretaker Authority, insulated from political changes, to focus solely on long-term infrastructure development. He cited Ethiopia and Kenya as examples of countries with centralized authorities executing the BRI efficiently— a model Nepal could follow.
Prof Yunsong also emphasized the need for Nepal to harness its hydropower potential to achieve energy independence and avoid future blockades. He pointed to the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, one of Nepal’s largest planned projects, as a crucial step in strengthening the country’s energy sector. “It’s time to stop relying on imports and start exporting power to the region, creating a foundation for economic growth that will last for generations,” he stated.
The dialogue took place at a time when the US administration under President Donald Trump has suspended USAID programs, including the much-debated Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) projects in Nepal. Calling on Nepal to reject Western aid colonialism, Prof Yunsong remarked, “Nepal must move away from Western aid dependency and instead focus on investment-driven growth, following China’s experience over the past four decades.”
During his presentation on Understanding the BRI: A Holistic and Comprehensive View Beyond the Nine Projects, he elaborated, “The BRI offers Nepal the potential to build revenue-generating infrastructure, fostering a sustainable economic model without strings attached.”
Why is Nepal’s decision on BRI critical?
Prof Yunsong argued that Nepal’s decision on the BRI is not merely economic but deeply tied to its future trajectory. “Nepal faces a choice: remain stagnant in political instability, geopolitical manipulation, and aid dependency, or seize this moment and embrace the BRI as a pathway to prosperity.”
Quoting renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs, he added, “Development is not a spectator sport. Nepal must not sit idly by while other nations forge ahead. The time for action is now.”
He further urged, “My Nepali friends, your people endure 12-hour daily power cuts during dry seasons while you debate abstract ‘risks of working with China.’ Your farmers haul goods on ox carts while BRI builds 3,000 km of railways per year in Africa. This is not neutrality—it is negligence.”
Concluding his remarks in the event also attended by Ambassador of China to Nepal Chen Song, Prof Yunsong stated, “The debate on the BRI should not focus on counting projects but on constructing them. This is Nepal’s last opportunity to escape the poverty trap. I encourage my Nepali friends to adopt a holistic and comprehensive view of the BRI. Build the roads, generate power and remove foreign interference. The nine projects under discussion are merely the beginning—but only if Nepal stops counting and starts building.”
The BRI was launched by China in 2013, with Nepal joining as an official partner in 2017. However, Prof Huang noted that Nepal’s participation in this ‘monumental initiative’ has been hindered by indecision, political instability and a misplaced commitment to so-called neutrality in the face of pressing economic choices.
“Nepal’s future economic trajectory hinges on its decision regarding the BRI and its ability to break free from the stagnation that has plagued it for decades,” he asserted.
The event also featured a presentation by Prof Zhang Shubin of the Nepal Study Center at Hubei University of Economics and Business. He discussed China-Nepal BRI Cooperation: A Win-Win Path to Nepal’s Prosperity.
“Nepal can serve as a platform for cooperation among China, India, the United States, and other nations,” Prof Zhang remarked. “We believe Nepal could one day become South Asia’s Brussels if we work together towards that vision.”