Major powers rush into Nepal after quake devastation

Located between two emerging Asian powerhouses, India and China, Nepal has been getting international attention in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake on April 25 for relief and reconstruction.

Senior Nepali government officials, including Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, have been receiving representatives of various countries for meetings and have sought greater international support for the Himalayan nation's reconstruction efforts.

This comes also in the wake of the Nepal government's preparations for holding an international donor conference in July.

High-profile officials of major global powers -- India, China, the US, and Britain -- rushed into Nepal following the destructive earthquake on April 25 to assess the damage and to take stock of the situation.

Pramod Mishra, additional secretary of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited Nepal on Tuesday and Wednesday and discussed the scale of damage caused by the earthquake, the Nepal government's post-destruction work, including reconstruction and rehabilitation bids carried out by the Nepal government and returned to New Delhi on Wednesday.

He called on Koirala, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat and Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Govinda Raj Pokhrel, and later briefed the Indian prime minister about his assessment.

"While keeping the dignity of Nepali people and to take the stock of the situation in the aftermath of the quake, India will remain by Nepal's side in whatever way it can assist Nepal in its rescue, search, relief and reconstruction operations," Mishra told Modi, according to a statement issued by the Nepal prime minister's private secretariat.

Prime Minister Modi has closely seen and experienced the earthquake in Gujarat in 2001 and has witnessed pain and devastation closely, said Mishra, adding that the former also knew about the reconstruction work undertaken in that western Indian state under his chief ministership and, hence, he was keen on Nepal's preparation for coming out of this tragedy.

Similarly, China will be sending its Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin to Kathmandu on Thursday to take stock of the situation to discuss with Nepali officials what China can do for Nepal's reconstruction and rehabilitation work.

The team will comprise 11 officials from the foreign and commercial ministries, State Administration of Cultural Heritage, China Earthquake Administration, and the National Population and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China, according to the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu.

Similarly, Secretary of State for International Development of Britain, Justine Greening, arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday and held a meeting with Prime Minister Koirala.

He also held separate meetings with Finance Minister Mahat and Foreign Minister Pandey.

Secretary Greening assured that, as a trusted friend and development partner, British cooperation with Nepal would continue in the post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation phase, particularly through programmes on economic development, job creation and livelihood, said a statement issued by the British embassy.

Nisha Biswal, the US's assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, also visited Nepal in the middle of this month and pledged all possible help.

"Very appreciative of support of Nepal and Indian government and military in search for missing US helicopter and crew," she tweeted after a meeting with government officials.

(Anil Giri can contacted at girianil@gmail.com)