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H.E. Ambassador Yang Houlan's Interview with Himalaya Television
Kathmandu, September 12, 2011
2011-09-13 14:52

On September 12, 2011, Himalaya TV televised its interview with Ambassador Yang Houlan as following:

1. How has been your stay in Nepal?

First, Nepal is a beautiful country. She is located in the Himalayas, with beautiful scenery, pleasant climate, rich cultural and religious heritage and much beautiful ancient architecture. Although it is less than three months since arriving in Nepal, I have been deeply attracted to her.

Second, Nepal is a friendly country. Since taking office, I have deeply felt the long history and good atmosphere of China-Nepal friendship, and the excellent friendship between our governments, political parties and peoples. As Ambassador to Nepal, I will do my best to further promote the bilateral relations to a new height.

Finally, Nepal is a land of great potential. Nepal is now in the difficult period of transition and faces many problems. Since Nepal's long history and thousands of years of civilization have never been interrupted, industrious and brave people of Nepal must have the ability to realize their country's political stability, economic development and social progress.

2. Nepal got chance to receive a high-level Chinese delegation led by Zhou Yongkang, a Standing Committee Member of Political Bureau of the Communist Party recently. How do you review the success of it?

In mid-August, a senior CPC delegation led by H. E. Mr. Zhou Yongkang visited Nepal. During the visit, Zhou met with the Nepalese President, Prime Minister, several government officials and major party leaders and had friendly and sincere meetings with them. He also visited some friends whom had made positive contributions to the China-Nepal friendship and signed a series of economic and technological cooperation agreement with the Nepalese side. Although time is short, the visit was still rich in content and fruitful, and the brotherhood of our two peoples left a deep impression on the Chinese side. This visit can be seen as a visit to relatives and friends and a trip of pragmatic cooperation.

3. Sino-Nepal relation has witnessed a long historical background and you have stated that this relationship should be considered as a good example in dealing with international affairs. How do you elaborate this? How does China eye the Sino-Nepal relations in future, say after ten years/twenty years?

In 2003, when H.E. CPPCC Chairman Mr. Jia Qinglin visited Nepal, he said that the bilateral relations between China and Nepal featured equal and sincere treatment, mutual support and friendship for generations. During the visit, H.E. Mr. Zhou Yongkang stressed again that China and Nepal were good neighbors, good friends and good partners.

The reason why China-Nepal relations can be ever new and developed for generations is that our two countries always persist in mutual equality, mutual trust and mutual respect on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The Chinese Government and people highly appreciate the Nepalese Government and people for their understanding of China's peaceful development and firm support on Tibet, Taiwan and other issues involving China's sovereignty and core interests. Meanwhile, the Chinese Government and people firmly pursue the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, highly respect for the choice of mode of development made by the Nepalese people and firmly believe that the Nepalese Government and people have the wisdom, ability and means to solve their own problems.

China-Nepal friendship conforms to the interests of both peoples and is also conducive to regional peace and stability. The Chinese Government will continue to follow the foreign policy of friendship and partnership and work together with the Nepalese side, to bring new vigor and vitality into good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

4. A phrase (you stated earlier) "Hopes of China" instead of concerns or interests or demands has given a good message among Nepalese. What can be the mechanisms of turning these hopes into reality? What are the sectors of mutual cooperation for bilateral benefit?

By reviewing the journey of China, one of our important experiences is that the basis and prerequisite for national development is political stability. Of course, each country has different conditions and we are willing to share our experience with Nepalese friends but not to impose them, measure them, ask them and transform them by our own standards.

Currently, Nepal's politics is at a critical moment of transition. Through extensive contacts with Nepalese political parties and friends, I feel that they have a strong desire to push forward the peace and constitutional process, the economic development and livelihood improvement. The brotherly Chinese people sincerely hopes Nepalese political parties can enhance friendly consultations, reach the agreement earlier and complete the peace and constitutional process.

Recently, the two countries' exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, culture, sports, religion, education and other aspects are heating up which have shown a vigorous momentum. We hope to maintain the exchanges and cooperation with different departments of Nepal and make efforts to the mutual developments of our two countries and well-beings of our two peoples.

5. Nepal has been saying committed to One China Policy and very much concerned that its soil never be used against China and other friendly countries. How do you evaluate the policy taken by Nepal? Do you see more rooms to improve efforts in this regard and like to suggest Nepal?

We highly appreciate your government and political parties for adhering to the principles and respecting and supporting China's position on issue related to its core interests. Successive Nepalese Governments have repeatedly stated in public that they will pursue the One China Policy and never allow any forces to conduct any anti-China activities on its soil. The Chinese side believes that these are practical measures the Nepalese side has taken for cherishing the friendship between the two countries, attaching importance to the bilateral relations and reflecting mutual trust between the two countries. These measures have provided the great support for China's stability and development which have proved Nepal is a real good friend, real good neighbor and real good partner of China.

Both China and Nepal are developing countries and the space for developing our good-neighborly friendship and deepening pragmatic cooperation in various fields between the two countries is very vast. The world today is undergoing tremendous changes and adjustments. If China and Nepal can cooperate and maintain the stable environment of development, this will not only benefit the two countries and peoples, but also will promote the regional peace, stability and prosperity.

6. Nepal is in the historic turning points as new constitution and peace process are considered big political changes which in aftermath, might lead the country to sustainable development. What do you think can China's contribution be in this historic point?

Of course, Nepal is now at an important historical turning point. I believe that with the successful completion of the peace and constitutional process, Nepal will enter a period of rapid economic and social development.

The Chinese side always attaches importance to the choice of the Nepalese people and has always supported their own efforts to protect Nepal's independence and sovereignty. Meanwhile, China has been providing support and assistance within its capacity and without any conditions for the development of all aspects in Nepal. As a good neighbor, good partner and good friend, China will continue to play a constructive role in construction and development of Nepal.

7. Nepal and China enjoy about fifteen hundred kilometers of mountaineering border. Sometimes illegal activities and border crimes are found covered even in the media so far. Do you have any further planning to address the problem?

Himalayas stretches thousands of miles with complex terrain. It is not only the tie of friendship between China and Nepal, but also a challenge to both sides to maintain peace in border areas. As you have said, cross-border crimes have always been our common problems.

Both China and Nepal attach great importance to maintain peace and stability in border areas and the two sides continuously strengthen the cooperation, communications and coordination in combating cross-border criminal activities.

Both China and Nepal also attach great importance to exchanges and cooperation in border regions. The Chinese side including Tibet Autonomous Region is also enhancing the interaction in our border areas and providing assistance and support within its capacity for economic development. Both sides are committed to working together to promote the cooperation of mutual trust and mutual benefit and the stability and development in border areas.

8. You have worked in other parts of the world, even in the tensed Korean Peninsula. With your experiences, talking about benefits and challenges to Nepal. How do you view the strategic position of Nepal between China and India?

India is an important neighbor of China and the two countries established diplomatic relations 60 years ago. The friendly cooperation in various fields between them has achieved fruitful results. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, jointly advocated by the two countries, is still a basic norm that guides the international relations.

Nepal is located between China and India and is a common neighbor of them. Currently, China and India are undergoing the period of rapid economic development that no doubt provides a good opportunity to the development of Nepal. To strengthen interaction and exchanges and realize complementary advantages and win-win cooperation between China, India and Nepal are the common interests of our three countries and are also conducive to the maintenance of regional stability and development. We hope the Nepalese side could make good use of its geo-strategic advantage and make greater contributions to this.

9. With the changing political and economic scenario. What do you think should be China's role in South Asia?

China borders with five South Asian countries. "Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off". The starting point of China's foreign policy in South Asia is to promote friendship, cooperation and development with it. Over the years, China have established different types of friendly and cooperative relations with South Asian countries and the bilateral cooperation is solid, steady and comprehensive. In 2001, China's trade volume with South Asia was only $ 5.685 billion; however, it reached $ 80.571 billion in 2010 which was 13 times larger than ten years before. Chinese goods with low price and high quality are popular and China-aided Projects have won a good reputation in South Asian countries.

China and South Asia are connected with fate and prosperity. To strengthen dialogue and consultation, promote communications and coordination and seek cooperation and development are the inevitable way toward common prosperity of the two sides. I believe that with the joint efforts of China and all South Asian countries, the two sides will co-write a more brilliant chapter of development and prosperity.

10. With the current pace of economic and military growth, with China's increased international role, what shape can the global system take with a strong Chinese position? Do you think this will bring a change in the international system that is termed "unipolar" today?

For more than 30 years of reform and opening up, China has made remarkable achievements. Development of politics, economy, military, culture and other aspects have made tremendous progress. But China, same as Nepal, remains a developing country. How to ensure sound and rapid growth of the economy, improve the level of people's material and spiritual life and achieve a moderately prosperous society in all respects are still the main task of the Chinese Government at this stage

The current international pattern and order do undergo complex and profound changes, and China should not only deal with its own affairs, but also should fulfill its international obligations. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, continue to hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation and join hands with people of all countries to make greater contributions to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity

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