Chen Song, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, has come under fire for making ‘undiplomatic remarks’ on the relations between India and Nepal. On Saturday, Chen made controversial remarks about economic relations between Nepal and India, calling them “not mutually beneficial,” while speaking at an event in Kathmandu. He also asserted that China, not India, could provide economic success to Nepal.Leader of the civic society Sundarmani Dixit has urged the government to quickly ask Ambassador Chen for an explanation and ask the Chinese government to recall him.
Speaking at a gathering on Tuesday, Dixit said that the long-standing relationship between Nepal and India could be harmed by the Chinese ambassador’s remarks. “The foreign minister should promptly ask the Chinese ambassador for clarification,” he said.Chen had pointed out that in the last fiscal year, Nepal exported electricity worth Rs 10bn to India, while simultaneously importing electricity worth Rs 19bn from India. “How can Nepal achieve self-sufficiency in the sector it takes pride in under such circumstances,” the Chinese envoy remarked at the program, which was also attended by Speaker Devraj Ghimire and CPN-UML leader Aanandaraj Pokharel.Chen went on to highlight that in the first month of the current fiscal year alone, Nepal had imported agricultural products worth Rs 7bn from India. “In this ratio, Nepal imports agricultural products worth Rs 100bn from India in a year,” he said, underscoring Nepal’s heavy reliance on India for agricultural products.
Vijay Kant Karna, a former Nepali ambassador to India, expressed his concern, labeling Chen’s comments as highly undiplomatic and unprecedented.“This is the first time in Nepal that an ambassador of any country has given such an undiplomatic comment,” he said. “China had previously commented on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the US and now is making remarks about India.” Karna said Nepal was capable of establishing relationships with other countries and it didn’t need any suggestions from other countries on how to conduct its foreign affairs.“The Chinese ambassador should have spoken about China being reluctant to open its border for trade with Nepal and the stalled BRI projects,” said Karna.
Meanwhile, the International Relations Committee of Parliament has summoned Foreign Minister NP Saud to address various diplomatic matters, including the controversial remarks made by the Chinese ambassador.Committee chair Raj Kishor Yadav said the meeting’s agenda will also encompass a discussion on establishing a code of conduct for foreign diplomats in Nepal. “The meeting will explore strategies to ensure that ambassadors adhere to diplomatic code of conduct,” he said.
Source: Here
