KATHMANDU, August 16: Top leaders of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have said that they want to maintain good relations with both immediate neighbors India and China.
During separate meetings with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang on Tuesday, the top leaders of the country's two major parties said that they want to maintain balanced and equidistance relations with India and China.
Although the visit by the Chinese vice premier is being watched with much interest in the diplomatic circle in Nepal as it has taken place amid an ongoing stand-off between India and China, leaders participating in the meeting said the issue did not figure in their meetings.
“We want to have good relations with both China and India. We are committed to One China policy. We will not let Nepali territory to be used by any elements inimical to the interests of our neighbors,” UML leader Lal Babu Yadav quoted UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli as saying in the meeting.
The Chinese vice premier had held a meeting with CPN (Maoist Center) leaders before meeting the UML leaders. UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel, Secretary Pradip Gyawali, parliamentary party leader Subash Nembang, chief whip Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, politburo member Brinda Pandey, central committee members Rajan Bhattarai, Lal Babu Yadav, Ranju Jha, among others had accompanied Chairman Oli in the meeting held at Soaltee Hotel.
Chairman Oli sought Chinese assistance for infrastructure development in Nepal. During the one hour long meeting, the Chinese vice premier said that China will be happy if Nepal maintained good relations with both its neighbors. He said that Nepal wants to maintain balanced and equidistance relations with India and China.
In a separate meeting with Vice Premier Wang, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that his party is eager to link Nepal and China through a railway network. He also sought Chinese assistance in Nepal's hydropower, tourism and infrastructure development.
During the meeting, the Maoist delegation asked the Chinese side to open the Tatopani transit point. The Chinese side responded to the request positively.
According to a statement issued by Dahal's Personal Secretariat, Vice Premier Wang said that China was willing to make investment in Nepal's infrastructures development. He said that Nepal-China relations had reached a new height after Nepal signed the One Belt One Road initiative.
Equidistance revisited
