A Message of Stability, an Opportunity for Nepal

The summit meeting held in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a clear message to the world: cooperation, dialogue and mutual respect are the path toward a sustainable future in the twenty-first century. The two great powers have presented a new model of international relations, without forming an alliance against anyone, yet without yielding to anyone’s pressure. For a small and sovereign country like Nepal, which believes in balanced diplomacy, this meeting and the message it has conveyed carry special significance.

This summit has delivered three major messages. First, the world is no longer unipolar. Sovereign equality, the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and the defense of multilateralism are the foundations of a durable international order. Second, it has demonstrated that economic cooperation and technological self-reliance can overcome external pressure and sanctions. The use of the ruble and the yuan in trade between the two countries, along with the expansion of cooperation in energy and technology, has shown the possibility of an alternative economic system. Third, the shared position of two powerful nations in favor of safeguarding the central role of the United Nations and upholding international law has strengthened the voice of smaller countries.

For Nepal, this development presents two opportunities. First, the stable relationship between China and Russia helps ease the balance of power in South Asia, creating an environment in which Nepal can conduct an independent and balanced foreign policy without coming under pressure from any one side. Second, the position taken by China and Russia in favor of the development and self-reliance of Global South countries allows Nepal to broaden the scope of its development partnerships. Cooperation with both countries in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, technology and education can accelerate Nepal’s long-term development.

This summit is also a lesson for Nepal. For the past 25 years, China and Russia have developed their relations on the basis of mutual respect, the defense of each other’s sovereignty, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. Nepal, too, can secure long-term benefits only if it is able to base its relations with its neighbors and major powers on these same principles. This message of dialogue and cooperation can serve as a guide for Nepal’s national interest, development and diplomatic balance.