What is your view on the political situation in Nepal following the promulgation of the new constitution?
When I met some Nepali friends in Beijing last week, I congratulated them on Nepal's success in promulgating the new constitution. It is a matter of pleasure for China that a sovereign neighbour has promulgated a new constitution. However, problems regarding the constitution have surfaced, especially in the southern part of Nepal. The Madhesi community has expressed their dissatisfaction and this is a serious problem.
How does China see the dissatisfaction in Madhes? How could it be resolved?
So far as I am concerned, the main goal of the Madhesi movement is to extend the demarcation of their province beyond what is set out by the constitution. If the demarcation of the province is extended to east and west as per their demand, this could affect the rights of other communities.
Therefore, efforts should be made to win the consensus of the Madhesi parties through a process of dialogue. In my opinion, external interference should be removed first to settle the Madhes issues. The Madhesi community is from the southern part of Nepal but external interference is against international laws and the principle of peaceful co-existence. Nepal should seek a solution to the problem through diplomatic discussions.
Nepal has been discussing this with India through diplomatic channels but this is yet to resolve the issues....
India has intervened in Nepal on the pretext of supporting the Madhesi movement. A big nation should respect the sovereignty of a small nation. If the policy of peaceful co-existence is accepted as China does, these types of crises will not surface. Because of this same policy, Nepal and China have enjoyed model relations for the last 60 years. But in the current crisis between Nepal and India, there is no alternative to seeking a solution through diplomatic discussions. Nepal should strengthen its self-confidence and maintain diplomatic relations with other countries for its own benefit.
China also has moved forward despite facing similar external interference. Western countries, including the USA, had initially intervened in the internal affairs of China. China found a solution through peaceful diplomatic discussions with those countries.
Nepal has taken initiatives on joining hands with China to end the Indian monopoly in the supply of fuels. Could this go on for the long term?
China has been supporting Nepal as much as it can and will continue to do so. However, China itself has a limited capacity of producing petroleum. China itself imports huge amounts of petroleum from other countries. In my view, Nepal should gradually become self-dependent in energy and invest in petroleum exploration.
Some people think that China will not support Nepal in a situation that affects China-India relations. Is that a correct analysis?
Nepal is a very important neighbour for China. Therefore, China should support Nepal in the current crisis situation but Nepal should not depend only on this type of support. China has diplomatic relations with more than 100 developing nations and these countries also expect support from China. China itself has remote places where fuel and resources are insufficient. Chinese history tells us that a country could become self-dependent if the leadership has confidence and a feeling for progress. We were very poor at the time new China was established in 1949. We used to cook food with firewood due to fuel shortages, as Nepal has been doing now. China has achieved economic growth in a very short period.
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