BEIJING — Nepal’s new government must harness Chinese technology and persuade investors it is open for business, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said on June 16 during his first trip to Beijing.
Khanal, whose Rastriya Swatantra Party won a commanding parliamentary majority in March, said fast economic growth, job creation and export expansion are top priorities. He urged investment to help substitute imports and narrow Nepal’s large trade deficit with China, and called for cooperation in agriculture, health, tourism and science and technology.
Speaking after talks with senior Chinese officials, Khanal confirmed active discussions with Starlink and Huawei about internet services, though no decision has been made and legal changes would be required. He stressed Nepal values relationships with all partners, naming India as a potential market for energy and China as a tourism source.
China’s Wang Yi reiterated Beijing’s readiness to support Nepal’s infrastructure needs, from power to highways, while previous financing disputes have slowed Belt and Road projects. Analysts noted Beijing may be unsettled by Nepal’s recent political upheaval, which brought a youthful government to power and could reshape Kathmandu’s foreign alignments.