KATHMANDU, Dec 20: The Phewa Dialogue, co-hosted by Tribhuvan University and Sichuan University of China, officially kicked off in Pokhara on Thursday. Several prominent figures, including former President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, former Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, and other distinguished leaders and scholars from South Asia and Southeast Asia attended the opening ceremony.
Themed “South Asia’s Options under Global Industrial Transfer,” the event brought together over a hundred former political leaders, scholars, and diplomats, including the Ambassador of China to Nepal, Chen Song, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, Abrar H. Hashmi, and former Malaysian Transport Minister, Ong Tee Keat, among others, according to a statement issued by the Embassy of China in Kathmandu.
The Chinese Embassy, which facilitated the event, stated that the Phewa Dialogue offers a valuable platform for fostering collaboration and charting new paths for South Asia’s economic development.
In Photos: Dragon Boat Race in Phewa Lake in Pokhara
In her speech, former President Bhandari emphasized the need for global cooperation in today’s interdependent world, highlighting China’s remarkable achievements in poverty alleviation and economic success as a potential model for South Asia. She stressed that South Asian nations could greatly benefit from China’s experience and unite to build a safer, more prosperous world.
Vice President of Sichuan University, Prof Yao Leye, noted the university's long-standing commitment to fostering exchanges with South Asia and advancing South Asian studies. He expressed optimism that the Phewa Dialogue would provide a platform for experts and scholars to share ideas, explore solutions, and work toward the region’s prosperity and stability.
Tribhuvan University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Keshar Jung Baral, reaffirmed the long-standing cooperative partnership between the two universities and emphasized the importance of further strengthening cooperation between Nepal, China, and other South Asian countries for regional development.
Chinese Ambassador Chen Song highlighted the accelerating global industrial transfer and urged South Asian nations to seize the “once-in-20-years” opportunity to integrate regionally and promote an open economy. He expressed hope that the Phewa Dialogue would contribute to high-quality economic growth in the region.
Former Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, who is also an Economic Advisor to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, discussed the rapid rise of emerging economies, particularly China, due to industrial transfer. He pointed out that South Asia, with its vast human capital and natural resources, could be an ideal destination for foreign investment, urging a focus on sectors like information technology, clean energy, and productivity improvement.
Former Malaysian Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat spoke about ASEAN’s economic development and the significance of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for regional connectivity. He emphasized the importance of leveraging the BRI to promote inclusive regionalism, particularly for the least developed economies of South Asia.
The two-day event aims to be a flagship project for high-level forums in the region, according to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. The event featured six sub-forums covering a range of topics, including global industrial transfer, the industrialization process in South Asia, green development and the digital economy, and Nepal’s opportunities in the face of unprecedented global changes.
