"Can't Replace Father With Mother": Nepal Minister On India-China Ties

Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has stressed that Nepal intends to maintain strong relations with both India and China, rejecting the idea that Kathmandu must choose one over the other. Speaking at NDTV World's Anviksha India-Nepal Dialogue in Kathmandu on Thursday, Khanal compared the country's ties with its two major neighbours to family relationships, saying each has its own importance and cannot simply be substituted for the other.

Khanal said Nepal's foreign policy must be guided by rational assessment and national interest rather than pressure to maintain a particular geopolitical balance. He described India and China as two important neighbours with which Nepal wants to preserve constructive relations. He added that his responsibility as foreign minister is to strengthen Nepal's national interests while considering the history, civilisation and economic engagement associated with each relationship.

Addressing perceptions that Nepal has become increasingly aligned with China, Khanal rejected the suggestion that the country had been "captured" by its northern neighbour. He acknowledged China's growing economic presence while pointing to the long history of trade and engagement between Nepal and China. At the same time, he stressed the importance of Nepal's extensive economic relationship with India, noting that around two-thirds of Nepal's total trade is with India.

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Khanal also played down expectations surrounding China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Nepal. He noted that Nepal signed a BRI framework agreement in 2017 and an implementation agreement later, but argued that the country had received no financial returns from BRI projects over the period he referred to. His comments came amid broader discussions about how Nepal can manage relations with its two powerful neighbours while ensuring that economic cooperation serves the country's interests.

The foreign minister also invited greater investment from Indian companies and the private sector, describing Nepal as "open for business". He identified energy, tourism and technology among the areas where Kathmandu is seeking stronger investment and cooperation. He also pointed to infrastructure and connectivity, including air and road networks, as sectors where Indian companies could play a greater role.

Khanal highlighted Nepal's potential in the energy and technology sectors, noting that an existing framework between Nepal and India provides for the export of 10,000 megawatts of electricity. He also pointed to Nepal's growing technology services exports, which he valued at nearly $1 billion, as another area for cooperation. His broader message was that Nepal seeks deeper economic engagement with India while continuing its longstanding relationship with China, with national interest remaining the central consideration in its foreign policy.

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