# Prem Sagar Poudel
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Beijing conveyed the message that Africa is China’s priority. America is trying to expand investment and relations to make Africa in its favor. In this situation, China has made it clear that it has reinforced its contact with Africans. What Nepal will learn from this forum has not been discussed in Nepal. China is not a priority in Nepal due to the expanding of relations with America. China’s investment is also not significant in terms of returns. Therefore, China’s collaboration with Africans is like a ripe bael for crow for Nepal. However, there are some topics that Nepal can learn from this forum.
In terms of investment, Nepal can be an attractive place for China. As the cost of laborer in China increases, Chinese companies can come to Nepal because of cheap labor in Nepal. However, Nepal is not interested in this matter. It seems that China is always ready to collaborate for the all-round modernization and development of Africa. Nepal should find the reason why China’s interest in Nepal is decreasing.
The US and its G7 partners are pushing ahead with plans to build infrastructure in African countries. When Africans keep their relationship with China, misrepresentations are used, including the debt trap. This commentary is also in Nepal. However, Nepal is carrying this wrong commentary of the West. This problem comes until the issue of Nepal’s national interest is clear. From this conference, it seems that Nepal should make China clear about its national interests.
At the conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that all assistance to Africa is welcome. But he also warned that dominant behavior should not be shown in this process. Why can’t not only China but also America use this commentary in Nepal? Nepal should be clear on this matter. On the other hand, China presented the highest example of hospitality by honoring the African delegates, with a red carpet welcome and presentation of cultural tableaus. Nepal should also find the reason why Nepal does not get the same respect as the African representatives from China.
In his speech, President Xi proposed upgrading bilateral relations with all African countries to a strategic level. He also emphasized on building the China-Africa community. This conference has created a basis for China and Africa to work in the fields of fairness and rationality, openness and win-win cooperation, people-centeredness, diversity and inclusiveness, ecological-friendly work, and peace and security. Why Nepal has not been able to build such a base with China so far.
At the conference, Chinese and African representatives raised the issue of cooperation in the Global South. In his speech, President Xi announced that China, together with African countries, will bring a wave of modernization to the entire South. In this way, China seems to be trying to establish itself as a partiality of the entire South and a reliable alternative to America. The leaders of Nepal link China’s efforts in Nepal with self-interest. This is the difficult path seen in the Nepal-China relationship.
China’s egalitarian thought is a major reason why Africans trust China instead of the West. China respects the sovereignty of African countries. Never interferes in their internal affairs. Now the West is trying to impose ideologies like homosexuality, individualism, and materialism in Africa. The West has implemented in behavior what it wants to do in Africa. Nepal should learn from Africans in this matter.
In 2021, China released a white paper entitled ‘China Africa Cooperation in the New Era’. It mentions the principles of cooperation between China and Africa. It emphasized sincere friendship and equal treatment, a blending of justice and national concerns, people’s development and openness, inclusiveness and coordination. In addition, China insisted on not placing any human rights or political conditions on the aid and not seeking its geopolitical interests in the investment. This is China’s open-mindedness about Africa. On the other hand, Nepal has faced problems when trying to export democracy and human rights to China. Nepal should learn from Africa about China’s sensibilities.
Published on: nepaltoday.com Online, २९ शनिबार, भाद्र २०८१ (14 September 2024)
