Nepal's lawmakers on Friday expressed concern over controversial remarks made by the Chinese ambassador regarding trade between the Himalayan nation and India. He categorically warned the ambassador to be more careful while commenting on sensitive matters of other countries.

An event on the theme 'China in the global economy and its impact on Nepal' was organized by the Foundation for Trans-Himalayan Research and Studies and Friends of Silk Road Club Nepal in Kathmandu on Saturday. Addressing the event, China's Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song claimed that Nepal is facing trade deficit due to trade of electricity with India.

Chen said, unfortunately you have a neighbor like India, which has immense potential that you can take advantage of. But, India's policy towards Nepal and other neighbors is not so favorable and not so beneficial for Nepal. That's why we call it the policy of constraints.

On Friday, the MPs of Nepal have expressed disappointment over the remarks of the Chinese Ambassador. A parliamentary committee has reportedly asked the Ministry of External Affairs to investigate Ambassador Chen's remarks on the Nepal-India electricity trade issue. Today a meeting of the Parliament's International Relations and Tourism Committee was held in which Foreign Minister NP Saud was summoned to investigate the matter. Committee members expressed concern over Chen's recent remarks.

According to Parliament sources, 'Committee chairman Rajkishore Yadav urged the Ministry of External Affairs to look into the matter and asked the ambassador to exercise caution while commenting on such a sensitive issue.' Yadav said, 'Nepal is a sovereign country, so it is our job what we do and what not.'

In the meeting, CPN (Unified Socialist) chief Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the ambassadors should be sensitive about the geopolitical situation of Nepal. Without directly naming the Chinese ambassador, he said that everyone should be careful so that anyone's expression does not aggravate Nepal's geopolitical complexities. He said, 'No one should make hurtful comments without knowing the geopolitical sensitivities and without understanding the fact that Nepal is committed to a non-aligned foreign policy. Be alert and keep Nepal away from difficult situations.

Nepal Communist Party (Unified Marxist-Leninist) MP Bhim Acharya said, it is not good for any country to interfere in the internal affairs of Nepal. He said his party will put forward its stand only after the Foreign Ministry gives clarification on the Chinese Ambassador's remarks.

 

Similarly, CPN-Maoist Center MP Barshaman Pun said that the tradition of third party commenting on Nepal's internal affairs should not be allowed to continue. Commenting on the domestic affairs of others is improper international diplomacy, he said. The Ministry of External Affairs should take the initiative to alert the Chinese Ambassador in this matter.

 

Janata Party vice-president Abdul Khan said that the Chinese ambassador has no right to speak about relations between Nepal and India. He also sought clarification from Ambassador Chen regarding his remarks. During the zero hour of the House of Representatives meeting on Friday, he said, 'For a long time, efforts are being made to create enmity between friendly countries Nepal and India.'