Good ties with India and China, Nepal's optimal choice: Chinese daily

Nepal has always felt pressure from India in terms of its internal affairs, but Kathmandu must not let itself turn into a pawn for either New Delhi or Beijing and maintain good relations with both, says a Chinese daily.

The state-run Global Times also said that Kathmandu's diplomacy has been sandwiched between New Delhi and Beijing.

"It might not be easy for Nepal to remain unbiased toward the two giant neighbours against such a backdrop. Keeping good relations with both China and India is Kathmandu's optimal choice," the editorial in the Global Times said.

The editorial said that India is trying to "turn tables" after being "alarmed by China's rising influence in Nepal". It has termed it as India's "narrow-minded geopolitical logic" and said that it will do favor to nobody.

"Beijing sincerely hopes to help Nepal's development and in the meantime establish the connection linking China to India as well as Bangladesh."

Welcoming India's "increasing support to Nepal's development", it said, "If New Delhi insists to see it as Beijing's attempt to cozy up to Kathmandu, India should at least realise the fact that China's support to Nepal has stimulated India to increase its assistance to Kathmandu, which means that this is nothing but a healthy competition."

During Khadga Prasad Oli's tenure, the India-Nepal relationship "deteriorated due to a series of issues including New Delhi's interference in Nepal's constitutional amendment and stricter border checks on Nepal's trucks," the daily said.

"It offered Kathmandu a good reason to strengthen ties with Beijing".

--IANS

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