Before serving as Nepal's ambassador to China in 2022, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha had devoted half a century of work to bringing positive changes to education in his country and to advocating for the rights of local communities. His experience with teaching, human rights and international relations gives him a profound insight into how historical ties between China and Nepal have evolved into a longstanding friendship. In an exclusive interview with Beijing Review reporter Peng Jiawei, Shrestha shared his views on the past, present and future of China-Nepal relations, as well as his understanding of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region's role in facilitating bilateral and multilateral exchange. Edited excerpts of their conversation follow:

Beijing Review: How has your extensive career in the fields of education and human rights helped foster your understanding of international relations? 

Bishnu Pukar Shrestha: For the first 30 years of my professional life, I was a teacher and later a leader in the teachers' movement of Nepal. At that time, I got the opportunity to connect with educators from other parts of the world, which allowed me to better understand the different societies, systems, cultures and values that make up our global community.

After I left my job in education, I started to work in the field of human rights. My engagement with human rights matters, which continued for about two decades, has helped me to grasp the many similarities between human rights work and diplomacy.

Diplomacy can be best described as an art of bargaining, of obtaining an agreement on cooperation in which the interests of all sides are fulfilled—as the Chinese say, a win-win situation.

Human rights work is also an art of negotiation. It is a process of bargaining, obtaining agreements and advocating for the protection and promotion of human rights.

It is through these experiences that I began to cultivate an understanding of how diplomacy and international relations go hand in hand.

There are currently many misleading rumors and false stories surrounding human rights matters in Xizang. What's your take on Xizang's development over the past decade?

The region is not as economically developed [as the country's eastern coastal cities] due to its high altitude and harsh climate. The local government, however, has been working incredibly hard to increase the happiness and prosperity of the residents.

Xizang has undergone miraculous development in all aspects over the past decade. Local infrastructure has greatly improved; a lot of work has been done to protect the region's unique and fragile ecosystems; a [multi-tiered] healthcare system has been established in the region; and the Tibetans can study in their own languages and follow their own religious beliefs.

The Tibetan culture is a rich fusion of diverse religions and traditions. And the local government has long been committed to protecting ancient palaces, monuments and other heritage sites. They have also taken great care to preserve the ancient Tibetan marriage system.

Across multiple fields including politics, religion, art and trade, China and Nepal have fostered enduring ties since ancient times, with Xizang being the main gateway.

In the seventh century, Nepali Princess Bhrikuti was married to [Tibetan King] Songtsen Gampo. The princess played a vital role in spreading Buddhism to Xizang. Over the centuries, Buddhism has become a major medium through which China and Nepal's histories were interconnected.

In the 13th century, Araniko, a Nepali artist and architect, arrived in Xizang and was then escorted to the court of Kublai Khan [founder of China's Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)] in Beijing. He later oversaw the construction of several white pagodas across China, including the one that can still be seen in China's capital city. His works are longstanding witnesses to cultural exchange between the two civilizations.

Trade between Xizang and Nepal also goes back a long way. The Nepali people used to sell salt and wood to the Tibetans, from whom they purchased gold.

That kind of connectivity continues to this day.

Tourism is one of the most important industries connecting Xizang to Nepal. Every year, many Nepali people travel to Xizang to visit Mount Kailash (known as Mount Kangrinboqe in China), which is believed to be the holy residence of Lord Shiva, one of the main deities of Hinduism. Lumbini, a sacred site in Nepal that is considered to be the birth place of the Buddha, is also a popular attraction among tourists from Xizang.

Of course, it is not just about Nepal-China exchange. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xizang will continue to serve as a major hub linking China to South and Central Asia. (The BRI is a China-proposed initiative to boost connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes.—Ed.)

I believe that, in time, Xizang will be transformed into one of the most prosperous regions in China.

Speaking of the BRI, how, in your view, have China-Nepal relations evolved since Nepal joined the BRI in 2017? 

In 2017, Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding to join the BRI, which has brought tremendous hope to the Nepali people. We have several BRI projects on the agenda, the implementation of which is prioritized by both countries.

A year later, China and Nepal agreed on the building of the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network (THMCN), which is an economic corridor between the two countries and a key part of the BRI. With the THMCN in place, the scope of cooperation has been extended from traditional infrastructure projects to cover railways, aviation hubs, ports, communications facilities and power grids.

An important project that falls under the THMCN is the Nepal-China Railway. It is a very ambitious project that, once completed, will greatly facilitate exchange in areas including trade, infrastructure, investment and renewable energy.

The formidable Himalayas have long been perceived as a barrier separating the two countries. With the construction of the cross-border railway, the barrier will be transformed into a bridge that interlinks the people of two nations and interlocks the cultures of the two civilizations.

What I want to add is that the cross-border railway will not only benefit Nepal and China, but also strengthen connectivity in the broader region.

Nepal is relatively small. China, on the other hand, has a massive manufacturing sector. The railway can serve as a new route for the exports of Chinese goods to South Asia, with Nepal being a major transfer stop.

And one day, there will be a connectivity network spanning the entire South Asian region. This boosted network will offer China a great opportunity to further expand its overseas markets and deliver high-level opening up, and also facilitate win-win cooperation among all South Asian countries.

Looking ahead, in what areas can China and Nepal strengthen bilateral ties and deepen mutual understanding? 

Next year will be the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China. Over the past seven decades, the two countries have fostered a cordial relationship based on mutual respect. Both countries respect each other's aspirations and core interests. Nepal adheres to the one-China principle and China does not interfere in Nepal's domestic affairs.

As both countries have decided to jointly celebrate 2025 as the Nepal Visit Year in China, Nepal and China will continue to foster friendship upon a solid foundation of cultural exchange.

Cultural exchanges and tourism activities between the two countries, as I mentioned earlier, have been going on for centuries. And now, we are working hard to speed up the pace and increase the frequency of these person-to-person exchanges.

We have so many exciting programs lined up for this year.

The White Pagoda Cultural Week scheduled to be held in Beijing in the latter half of the year will feature a series of activities that showcase the beauty of Nepali traditions.

Researchers, professors and members of Nepali think tanks will also be visiting China for exchange with their Chinese counterparts.

The Third Nepal Investment Summit will be held in April, and we are looking forward to more investment from China in the fields of infrastructure, green energy, agriculture and tourism.

It will be a dynamic year for the two countries to strengthen trade, explore new investment opportunities and connect on a deeper human level. Bilateral exchange between Nepal and China has begun to pick up momentum. I am very confident about it. 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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