Today is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In the 100-year time, every step the party took in various historical periods shone with dazzling brilliance.
Nepal and China are close neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, and they share a long history of friendly and profound feelings for each other. We have a long history of friendly exchanges and cooperation. The relations between Nepal and China have always remained cordial, friendly and reliable. These relations have been further strengthened by the exchange of visits at various levels between the two countries. The relations between Nepal and China are as old as history itself. As the country marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) today, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Chinese people on behalf of Nepal-China Cultural and Educational Council.
High-level visits
Nepal and China are good neighbors and friendly countries, and have made great progress in people-to-people exchanges. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China on August 1, 1955, our relations are growing and we are getting closer day by day in all areas. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 66 years ago, the political relation and people to people relation between the two countries have been increasingly promoted. In 2019, the President of China, Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Nepal at the friendly invitation of the President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari. In1956, Nepali Prime Minister Tank Prasad Acharya visited China. In 1957, Prime minister of China, Zhou Enlai visited Nepal and in 1960, Prime Minister of China, Zhou Enlai visited Nepal for a second time at the friendly invitation of the Prime Minister of Nepal, Bisweswar Prasad Koirala. In this way, high level visits started and then King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, President Ram BaranYadav and Prime Ministers Bisweshwar Prasad Koirala, Kirti Nidhi Bista, Girija Prasad Koirala, Man Mohan Adhikari, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal of Nepal and President Li Xiannian, Jiang Zemin, Prime Ministers Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Wen Jiabao of China paid friendly visits to each other’s countries. After these high level visits from both countries, our traditional relations became more profound and closer. During his visit to China in 1961, late King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah signed the border treaty. In 1960, the Embassy of China in Kathmandu, Nepal was established and in 1961, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, China was established. Nepal has the honor of having Consulate General offices in Lhasa, Tibet, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Chinese assistance
Nepal and China are heading in a firm way to further consolidate their traditional friendly ties and mutual cooperation in various sectors. China has been assisting Nepal in its efforts at socio-economic development since the mid-1950s, especially in the field of infrastructure building, establishment of industries, human resource development, culture, education, health, sports and beyond. Some of the important Chinese grant-aid projects are Bharatpur Cancer Hospital, Civil Service Hospital in Kathmandu, Ayurvedic Research and Training center, Polytechnic Institute in Banepa, Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Road, rehabilitation and upgrading of Araniko Highway, Baglung-Beni-Jomsom Road, Dry port in Tatopani, etc.
Xi takes firm line as China Communist Party marks centenary
Since then, the relations between Nepal and China have become stronger and profound. China has been assisting Nepal in the area of infrastructure, health, education, culture, religion and economy etc. In 2000, China established the Chinese Temple in Lumbini. In 2007, the Confucius Institute settled at Kathmandu University. In 2009, the two countries established a youth exchange mechanism. In 2018, China held eight "China Festival" and "China Education Exhibition" activities in Nepal.
In 2015, when a great earthquake hit Nepal, China assisted, helped, rescued and provided big help and support for reconstruction. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Nepal, China has been providing meaningful support, including all the necessary health supplies under grants. Recently, China provided as a grant aid 1.8 million doses of SinoPharm and Vero cell vaccines to Nepal. The Nepali government and Nepali people will always remember this significant help and support.
1.4 billion Chinese people’s trust
The Communist Party of China takes the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its original aspiration and mission. After arduous struggle and hard work, it has led the Chinese people to stand up and get rich and become stronger, and help China to grow into the second largest economy in the world. The Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in their victory over the novel coronavirus disease. It has demonstrated the responsibility of the Communist Party of China and its successful response to major disasters. It has won the support of 1.4 billion Chinese people.
Nepal and China are traditional friendly neighbors and have always maintained mutual trust, respect and support. Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council sincerely wishes and believes that under the leadership of the great Communist Party of China, the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics will continue to develop, and China will surely realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
As a non-governmental organization aiming to promote cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries, Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council appreciates China’s long-term assistance and is willing to draw strength from the centuries-old history of the Communist Party of China and make greater contributions to the development of friendly relations between the two countries.
Today is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In the 100-year time, every step the party took in various historical periods shone with dazzling brilliance. After a hundred years of vicissitudes, and a hundred years of trials and hardships, the CPC has always maintained a great spirit of struggle and a heart to the people, leading the Chinese people to take the steps to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
I have deep feelings for China. The story between me and China is very long. From the first time I set foot on the Chinese soil in 1979 to today, I have witnessed the fruitful achievements of the new China under the leadership of the CPC. To save the country, rejuvenate the country, enrich the country, and strengthen the country, every step the CPC takes is based on reality, down-to-earth, and has embarked on a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has made great contributions to the country, the people, and the world. It uses practical actions and results to prove China's strength to the world.
Under the leadership of the CPC, China has achieved world-renowned achievements in all aspects and in many fields. On February 25 this year, China solemnly announced to the world that China has achieved a complete victory in its fight against poverty. Since the reforms and opening up, 770 million rural poor people in China have been lifted out of poverty, according to the current poverty standards.
Combating COVID-19
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the CPC has taken the lead and bravely accomplished its mission. The Chinese people believe in the leadership of the party and actively cooperate with the country's policies to overcome the pandemic with one mind. By the end of April this year, China had vaccinated over 1 billion Chinese people, and provided more than 350 million doses of vaccines to the international community, including vaccine assistance to more than 80 countries, and vaccine exports to more than 40 countries. If everyone sitting here also expresses their admiration for China’s strength and speed, then look up and you will see three astronauts in the Chinese Space Station in the vast universe beckoning to us, celebrating this great centenary of the founding of the party with us.
A glorious history
Facts have proved that the history and the people are correct in choosing the CPC to lead the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Under the leadership of the CPC, China has radiated great vigor and vitality, providing new choices for countries and peoples in the world who both want to accelerate development and maintain their independence, and contribute Chinese solutions and Chinese wisdom to solving human problems. Facing the future and facing challenges, I believe that under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation will inevitably be realized, and the new era from big to strong will also get better and better, and China will also bring more surprises to the world.
The CPC was established in 1921. This year, the great party completes a glorious history of 100 years. There is a saying in China that there would be no New China without the Communist Party. Anyone familiar with the Chinese history knows that since the founding of the CPC, the Chinese people have worked hard under its leadership to make China pass through a bloody storm. Step by step from the devastating era to today’s prosperity, China’s achievements today cannot be separated from the original intention and mission of the CPC to serve the people wholeheartedly, and the ideals and wisdom of countless Chinese Communists have been condensed.
In the 100 years under the leadership of the CPC, China's development has attracted the attention of the world, with political progress and social harmony. Especially since the reforms and opening up, China's economic development has embarked on a fast track, scientific and technological progress, and cultural and educational undertakings have flourished.
At present, the new coronavirus pandemic in many countries in the world is still severe. However, under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have made great achievements in controlling the pandemic. They have not only controlled the spread of the pandemic in China in a short period of time, but also helped other countries do the same. When Nepal was faced with severe challenges arising from the pandemic, China provided Nepal with emergency medical supplies and vaccines and shared its experience in prevention and control and diagnosis and treatment, demonstrating the spirit of helping each other.
On the centenary of the founding of the CPC, as the chairman of the Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council, I wish the Communist Party of China a happy birthday, wish China a prosperous future under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and wish Nepal and China enjoy even greater people-to-people exchanges in the days to come.
Long Live Nepal-China Friendship!
(The author is Chairman of Nepal China Cultural and Educational Council)