During his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nepal’s Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba is learnt to have shared some details about Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to Kathmandu. Top diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian that “The Indian side got some updates on Beijing’s bid to push its agenda in Kathmandu. The details were assessed and analysed in a meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) later.”
“Beijing’s push for its BRI initiative in Kathmandu also figured during interactions between diplomats of Nepal and India,” said sources. In fact, Deuba’s trip came on the heels of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Kathmandu. Sources said that one of the objectives behind Wang Yi’s visit to Nepal was to push China’s agenda that also included the BRI project.
Another important development that has drawn India’s attention is that Nepal ratified a half-billion-dollar aid grant from the United States in what is being seen as an attempt by Washington to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Sources said Nepalese diplomats did share some important details about the same during informal interactions. “There is no doubt that China is trying to deepen relations with Nepal, with an eye on India,” an official told The Daily Guardian after the assessment of the details shared by the Nepalese side. “What is important to note is that Beijing is showering Kathmandu with investments in various projects of infrastructure development. China has also helped Nepal with millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic,” said a diplomat.
Nepal’s Prime Minister met his Indian counterpart on Saturday during a three-day trip to New Delhi and signed a slew of agreements. Deuba also discussed India-Nepal boundary issue with PM Modi.
Sources said that the Nepalese leader was given a message that no other party (read China) should be allowed to interfere in the border issue. Similarly, he was told that the politicization of the border issue should also be avoided. In fact, the then PM, K.P. Sharma Oli had raised this issue in 2020 apparently to fend off increasing domestic pressure and political climate against him. Moreover, it was said that Oli had triggered the boundary row at the behest of China. “With this in mind, it was indicated to the Nepalese side that no outside interference should be there vis-à-vis the border issues between the two nations,” sources said.
