Birendra P Mishra, Kathmandu. Our regional super power and the second largest economy of the world China was on its nerves with regard the progress getting stalled of Its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)signed in 2027, which was initiated by president Xi Jinping and have been adopted by dozens of countries of the world. Hardly a few countries have dared to come out of this Chinese venture. China was so much perplexed that the third Road and Belt Forum for International Corporation in its meeting held on October 17-18, 2023 included two small operational projects, Panda Pack Project and Amity Living Water Project in the list of projects under BRI against nine projects selected during PM Oli’s last visit on account of the BRI Implementation plan remained held up in Kathmandu. The then Chinese envoy’s ridiculously claim that the construction of Pokhara International Airport was made under BRI as he knew well that the project was started before Nepal signed it showed the Chinese desperation. This agony of China has now been removed by the PM Oli’s four-day visit (Dec.2-Dec.5) to China. Its constant efforts since2020 to get its BRI Implementation plan accepted by Nepal has now been accepted though in a different robe .
PM Oli visit has created history of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as it may now be called Belt and Roan Initiative Cooperation (BRIC) in Nepal, contrary to the usual mode of payment has been changed from loan to technical and aid assistance, which was unfamiliar to the BRI world. To cofirm it, PM Oli and Foreign Minister DR. Rana have been constantly claiming that loan will not be accepted as a finacial modality,
His visit has some positive and negative aspects. Positively, PM Oli has succeeded in getting the implantation plan with changed nomenclature signed ultimately. Had it been not signed, his visit could have been marred as a failed one. Perhaps, this is the reason some changes were made in the plan, which were not included in the original text forwarded to China might be as a barging chip. The visit was an opportunity to offer China a sigh of relief as the issue was lingering for more than four years. Negatively, PM Oli could not give all that he wanted to offer to please the Chinese leadership. That is the reason perhaps that he got irritated at the question raised regarding ‘loan’ during his press conference at the airport. The consensual draft prepared by the joint expert committee that included the terminology of ‘BRI Cooperation Frame work’ replacing the Chinese BRI Implementation Plan’ was not whole-heartedly supported by the Prime Minster, which was definitely not acceptable to China. Since PM Oli had already made up his mind to visit China, he accepted the consensus draft to preserve the alliance with the Nepali Congress with the hope that China would accept it during the negotiation. Since the document has been signed, he is satisfied. However, sensing the dissatisfaction China he did not take up the demand of converting the loan taken for Pokhra airport into a grant, which was already communicated by Dy.PM Vishnu Paudel toying Weiqun,vice chairman of the China International Development Corporation Agency on August 23,2024 in Kathmandu. It seems he did not raise the issue to irritate further the Chinese establishment for getting BRICoopration work plan accepted by it, as was done by the then PM PK Dahal Prachanda who did not raise the issue of border disputes with Indian PM Modi during his visit to India. However PM Oli could satisfy the Chinese by accepting negotiation financial modality for each project signed under BRIC work plan and is happy at the same time that his favourites projects have been included in the list of ten projects. .
Significantly, PM Oli has proved himself not only being shrewd leader but also a bold one who can forgo something for personal gain but can also take bold decisions for the sake of national interests. For example, during the mush-awaited visit of president Xi Jinping in 2019 he almost okayed all the demands made by China except the treaty of extradition in which China was much interested. But of course, this time he has shown his boldness by making China accept the replaced nomenclature for BRII implemetation plan unlike Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It seems he is the only leader in Nepal who can utilize the political conditions for his benefits except SB Deuba. First he supportd Prachanda to become PM disregarding the democratic norm( not violating the constitutional provision) to keep SB Deuba out of power. But when he was offered prime ministership by Deuba to save him from some troubles he did not hesitate even for a moment and accepted Deuba’s offer to oblige him instead.However, it is difficlt to say that who is more shrewd.
