Kathmandu,
Feb. 17:
Vice-President
Nanda Bahadur Pun said Friday that the country's relations with its neighbours
should not change with the change of government.
Addressing
a programme organised to mark the 69thanniversary of Nepal Council
of World Affairs (NCWA), he said that in the absence of a stable neighbourhood
and foreign policy, Nepal's relations wouldn't be reliable and strong.
"Nepal
needs to make its neighbourhood policy strong with wide analysis and mature
public opinion, and economic gain must be the main goal while strengthening
bilateral or trilateral relations," he said.
According
to Vice-President Pun, during high level visits to foreign countries, subjects
that fall under the ministries other than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Ministry of Finance should be discussed intensively.
He
stressed on the implementation of the project agreements signed with the
neighbouring countries at the earliest.
VP
Pun said that Nepal was lagging behind due to internal instability and absence
of a clear foreign policy.
"Uniformity
on national policy and a common commitment for its implementation are a must to
be successful in diplomatic relations. But in the case of Nepal, it has not
been so. Therefore, we are lagging behind," said Pun.
He
said that the political parties might have their own ideologies, but they
should have one opinion in terms of foreign policy, and this should reflect in
their attitude.
"Economic,
social and political development with internal stability should be our prime
goals while expressing our notions at the diplomatic level," he said.
NCWA
president Dr. Rajendra Bahadur Shrestha suggested focusing on economic rather
than conventional diplomacy.
"Application
of tact, negotiation skills and intelligence in promoting development, trade
and investment constitute an integral part of economic diplomacy," he
said.
According
to Dr. Shrestha, attracting foreign direct investment from China, India and
others along with transfer of new technologies, skills and managerial expertise
in areas of comparative and competitive advantages, such
as hydropower, infrastructure, agro-forestry based industries and tourism would
boost Nepal's economy.
Saying
the current equidistance or balanced approach in terms of India and China might
not yield the desired results in Nepal's interest, he remarked that foreign
policy should be country specific based on comparative advantage and
cooperation, not confrontation.
He
said that there was a need for an urgent review of Nepal's current policies and
relations vis-à-vis its neighbours.
"The
recent border blockade, unrest in Madhes, widening gap between different sections
of the society, and excessive external interference in the internal affair are
largely the consequence of our weak foreign policy and ineffective
diplomacy," he said.
He
said that lack of consensus on issues of national interest among the political
leaders has remained an obstacle in defining our policy priorities.
"Partisan
politics and conflicting interest of the leadership in response to
international and regional issues have tarnished the national image. As a
result, Nepal does not seem to have an effective foreign policy that is
coherent, up-to-date, comprehensive, pragmatic and flexible enough to protect
national interest," he said.
NCWA
general secretary Prof. Dr. Shreedhar Gautam said that the organisation was the
largest national institution promoting international understanding,
cooperation, peace, security and prosperity among the people of friendly
countries through people to people diplomacy.
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