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The sixth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), taking place from April 1 to 5 in Thailand, is set to be a defining moment for the regional bloc. At the heart of the discussions will be the adoption of BIMSTEC Vision 2030, a strategic roadmap aimed at expanding and strengthening collaboration among member-states.

Adding to the summit’s significance, leaders are expected to approve a comprehensive report by the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG), which proposes sweeping reforms to reinvigorate and redefine the organization’s role in the region. Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary-General of BIMSTEC, underscored the importance of this gathering in an interview with ANI, highlighting that it will be the first in-person summit since Kathmandu hosted the event in 2018.

One of the key outcomes will be the formalization of BIMSTEC Vision 2030, a forward-looking framework designed to guide future cooperation. Additionally, leaders will adopt rules of procedure, building on the momentum of the BIMSTEC Charter’s enforcement in May 2023. The summit will also witness the signing of a Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement, a crucial step toward enhancing regional connectivity. Another major highlight will be the virtual inauguration of the BIMSTEC Energy Centre in Bengaluru, an initiative aimed at fostering knowledge-sharing in energy sector reforms, regulations, and best practices among member nations.

Despite being established in 1997, BIMSTEC only adopted its foundational charter in 2022, reflecting its historically slow progress. However, with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) remaining inactive due to persistent India-Pakistan tensions, BIMSTEC has emerged as a potential alternative for regional collaboration. India, in particular, has been actively working to elevate BIMSTEC’s role, though officials maintain that SAARC could still be revived in the future.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will lead Nepal’s delegation to the summit, reiterating the country’s support for BIMSTEC while emphasizing that it should not be seen as a replacement for SAARC. The 2018 Kathmandu Summit, held during Oli’s previous term, produced an 18-point declaration, setting a precedent for ambitious outcomes this year.

On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings, including with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising prospects for progress on regional diplomacy.

As BIMSTEC seeks to move beyond years of sluggish progress, this summit could mark the beginning of a new chapter in regional cooperation, one that bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia more effectively than ever before.

China is organizing the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) from March 25 to 28, in Qionghai City, South China’s Hainan Province. It is an annual event at which government officials, heads of international organizations, business leaders and scholars converge to discuss the most pressing issues of the day. However, there will not be high-level participation from Nepal as Nepal’s Ambassador to China Krishna Prasad Oli has been told to represent Nepal.

Last year, then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s foreign affairs advisor Rupak Sapkota had attended the program. In the past, there used to be participation of the prime minister or president but nowadays Nepal is sending low-key officials. Officials say as Nepal’s top political leadership snubbed the invitation, China has not shown interest to lend the invitation to the top political leadership.

Launched in 2002, the forum has witnessed Asia’s regional integration as it pulled through the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the SARS epidemic in 2003, the global financial crisis in 2008 and the recently concluded Covid-19 pandemic.

In the first conference, King Birendra was invited in 2001 and in 2015 then President Ram Baran Yadav represented Nepal.  Now, the region once again finds itself on the cusp of change. “Our world is in the middle of a pivotal transition, where disruptive shifts are profoundly reshaping the international order,” BFA Secretary General Zhang Jun said at a press conference in Beijing. “What this means is that the BFA, as a high-level platform dedicated to dialogue and cooperation, now stands at a new horizon, where it is charged with both greater expectations and heavier responsibilities,” he added.

Top leaders of major political parties have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing projects under China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). They underscored the critical importance of Nepal’s relationship with its northern neighbor, China, for the nation’s economic development and long-term prosperity.

Nepali Congress leader Minendra Rijal, speaking at a high-profile event in the capital, highlighted his party’s preference for grants under the BRI framework. However, he clarified that this does not mean Nepal should rely solely on grants. “We have shared a long-standing relationship with China, built on mutual trust, and we aim to nurture this bond in the years to come,” Rijal stated. He emphasized the need for careful consideration of foreign debt when securing loans from any country.

Rijal also stressed Nepal’s sovereignty, asserting that the country is free to make independent decisions regarding its partnerships. “Our relationship with China is pivotal, and we seek to benefit from China’s remarkable development trajectory,” he said. The NC leader advocated for project-specific negotiations, adding, “Conditions need not be uniform for all projects. Rijal also expressed support for connectivity projects with China.

Senior Vice-chairperson of CPN-UML, Surendra Pandey, echoed the commitment to the BRI, citing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s signing of the BRI agreement with China as a clear endorsement. “Our party fully supports the BRI and its potential to drive Nepal’s development,” Pandey said. “All parties are united on BRI, which was evident during the signing of the BRI framework.”

He, however, pointed out several critical issues that need resolution before projects can move forward.

“Key concerns include the interest rates on loans, the repayment period, the selection of construction companies—whether Nepali or Chinese—and the sourcing of raw materials,” Pandey explained. He criticized the Nepali Congress’s stance on accepting only grants as impractical, urging a more pragmatic approach. “Let’s begin with one project. Its success will provide valuable lessons for future endeavors,” he suggested.

CPN (Maoist Center) senior leader Dev Gurung called for immediate action, emphasizing that delays in BRI implementation are largely attributable to the Nepali side. “There should be no further delays. The BRI holds immense potential to transform Nepal from a landlocked nation into a land-linked hub, bolstering our sovereignty and economic prospects,” Gurung asserted.

The BRI, with its focus on infrastructure and connectivity, is seen as a game-changer for Nepal. Leaders across the political spectrum agree that the initiative could unlock new opportunities, fostering economic growth and strengthening Nepal’s geopolitical standing.

After years of strained relations, China has recently intensified its engagement with the Nepali Congress (NC), Nepal’s oldest and largest democratic party. Over the past decade, the relationship between China and the NC had soured due to various political and diplomatic reasons. However, recent developments indicate a shift in China’s approach, as Chinese diplomats and leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) have begun actively engaging with NC leaders.

A notable example of this renewed engagement is the recent visit of an NC delegation led by senior leader Sujata Koirala to China. During the visit, the delegation toured several Chinese cities, including Chengdu, and held meetings with senior CPC officials. This marks a significant step in China’s efforts to strengthen ties with the Koirala family, a prominent political dynasty within the NC.

In early March, Sun Haiyan, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met with Koirala. According to a Chinese readout, Sun praised the NC and the Koirala family for their long-standing commitment to fostering China-Nepal friendship and for upholding the correct stance on issues related to Xizang (Tibet) and Taiwan. Sun emphasized the CPC’s willingness to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the NC and other major political parties in Nepal, urging both sides to focus on implementing the consensus reached between the two countries.

Koirala, in response, reaffirmed the NC’s firm support for the One-China principle and expressed her party’s eagerness to leverage the 70th anniversary of Nepal-China diplomatic relations to deepen mutual understanding and collaboration. This marks a notable shift from the past, when relations between China and the NC deteriorated significantly. One key incident was in 2016, when NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba shared a stage with a representative of the Tibetan government-in-exile at an event organized by the India Foundation in Goa. This incident, among others, led to a period of mistrust and strained ties.

Other factors contributing to the rift included China’s preferential engagement with Nepal’s communist parties, often at the expense of sidelining the NC, as well as the NC’s public criticism of China’s alleged border encroachment and its cautious stance on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). During this period, Chinese state media frequently portrayed the NC as a pro-Indian party, further exacerbating tensions.

However, relations began to improve following the signing of the Framework for Belt and Road Cooperation during Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s visit to China in December 2023. NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba played pivotal roles in facilitating the agreement, despite strong opposition within their own party. Their support for the BRI marked a turning point in China-NC relations, even as senior NC leaders like Prakash Sharan Mahat and NP Saud continued to voice concerns about the initiative, arguing that it contradicted the party’s position against taking loans under the BRI.

Since the signing of the BRI agreement, there has been a noticeable increase in visits by NC leaders to China, and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu has actively engaged with senior NC figures. This represents a departure from China’s previous approach of primarily engaging with Nepal’s communist parties, a trend that had persisted for over a decade. During this period, China focused on fostering unity among Nepal’s communist factions, leading to a perception among NC leaders that they were being marginalized.

China’s recent outreach to the NC suggests a recognition of the need to broaden its engagement beyond communist parties. This shift is seen as an effort to build a more balanced and inclusive relationship with Nepal’s political landscape. While senior communist leaders have frequently visited China over the years, NC leaders have rarely done so. The current wave of engagement indicates that both sides are working to address past misunderstandings and strengthen bilateral ties.

This renewed engagement comes at a critical juncture, as China seeks to consolidate its influence in Nepal amid evolving regional dynamics. By fostering closer ties with the NC, China aims to ensure that its initiatives, including the BRI, gain broader political support within Nepal. For the NC, this represents an opportunity to reaffirm its role as a key player in Nepal’s foreign policy and to balance its relationships with both China and India.