Nepal-France Relations : Possibilities Of Co-operation

Madhavji Shrestha

The status of Nepal-French relations at the moment is said to be normal. No new dimension in the bilateral ties is likely to emerge soon. A new government headed by Nicolas Sarkozy is on the saddle of the government after his spectacular victory in the presidential elections. The latest opinion polls predict his party will also make decisive gains in the assembly elections slated for next month. Observers of the French political scene, however, say that no new initiative will emerge in its foreign policy towards Asia, in general, and South Asia, in particular, because our region does not figure prominently in the scheme of French foreign policy since long.Nepal's dramatic political transformation last year has not been able to add any perceptible new element to the bilateral connectivity between the two countries. Nepal still remains plunged in the political impasse. One very lamentable concern is that Nepal has not been able to make a good choice for an efficient and effective ambassador to France for the last five years. Hence, the level of relationship has stayed at a low key as if no interactions are working between the two.

Global roleBut France has maintained its presence with an ambassador in Nepal without a break since the establishment of its embassy in Kathmandu. Evidently, France does not have any strategic partnership with Nepal nor are there any good linkages of political and economic concerns. Requisite components of connectivity between the two are conspicuously absent to have a good friendship. However, consistent efforts to identify appropriate areas of co-operation will help to improve the relationship and widen its scope.Experts of recent French history and politics say France aspires to be a universal country, and to achieve that, it has charted a map for a major global role. Naturally, aspiring for a greater role means having a great vision and implementing the policies in true form. Undoubtedly, France is very proud of its culture, literature and, above all, its language. It is for these reasons that France had taken the initiative a few years ago to establish in Vietnam an international organisation of 42 Francophone countries, with the appointment of former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali as its founding Secretary General. This shows how France wishes to play its role in the global arena. Undeniably, the sizeable quantum of resources and capabilities at its disposal are the pre-requisites for materialising its global role.

France as an influential nation exhibited its diplomatic prowess in maintaining stability and peace in Europe in post World War II period. Along with a democratised Germany, it has also made great contributions with its diplomatic ingenuity to establish the European Common Market, which has now grown into a politically homogenous European Union. At present, this Union is the single largest trading bloc of the world with a total GDP of about US$ 13 trillion. France stands tall in the European Union and plays a crucial role in its foreign and defense policies and, more visibly, in trade and developmental co-operation.France is endowed with enchanting landscapes in the whole of its territory bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Mediterranean Sea in the south. It is also rich in ancient and medieval heritage, arts and music. The geographical attraction coupled with its aesthetic inheritance have made France a truly global centre of tourism. Each year, tourist arrivals from around the globe exceed its total population. Today, France enjoys a position of envy, which remains unbeatable despite severe competition from various countries of Europe and other continents. It has remained so because tourists wishing to make a trip abroad can find every object and comfort of their choice in the sprawling lands of France.

The ties between Nepal and France are one of an underdeveloped country with a highly advanced nation. The situation in the two is indeed different from every socio-economic aspect. On the political front, too, there is a high degree of difference. If Nepal is toddling with a multi-party system, France has already reached the pinnacle of democratic maturity. Under such circumstances, Nepal as a country trailing far behind in socio-economic progress needs to search for possibilities of co-operation.France is a core member of the European Union with great influence on the co-operation that the Union extends to underdeveloped countries like Nepal. An appropriate approach with the concerned authorities of France dealing with EU affairs would certainly enhance broader understanding, besides paving the way for strengthening democratic linkages with many member states of the European Union. Such efforts would, no doubt, escort the Nepali mission accredited to the European Union in Brussels to move ahead with reinforced synergy. As a result, co-operation can be expected to grow to the advantage of Nepal.

France is also a country that takes great pride in its educational and cultural attainments that are of excellent standard. The one important step Nepal needs to initiate is to move ahead with an avowed purpose of establishing good contacts with the educational institutes of France. France is the only country in the world that allocates the largest share of its annual budget for cultural activities abroad. Nepal can, if approached with convincing and well charted programmes, make good progress in pushing our educational level upward.Nepal has yet to make its bureaucracy self-sustaining and functioning for the country's cause. For bureaucratic management and efficiency, France is at a highly advanced stage compared to other democratic countries of the European Union. Its effective bureaucracy showed the world how the momentum of technical and economic progress could be achieved even during the years of political instability after World War II until the advent of the fifth republic in 1958. The efficacy of the French bureaucracy is considered very high. Nepal can improve its bureaucracy by learning from France and sharing their experiences.

Co-operation in Tourism

Nepal possesses large potentials for expanding tourism and related activities, which can contribute to economic growth and create jobs. Regrettably, this sector has not made worthy achievement. France is undoubtedly an appropriate country to turn to for technical assistance as it has valued experience and technical capability. France is among the top five countries from where large numbers of tourists come to Nepal. This is one of the good points to enhance our co-operation in tourism promotion. Noticeably, a very important point, among others, is that Nepal should be receptive to attaching importance to the mutually advantageous introduction of the French language and their educational technicalities in Nepal. This will certainly contribute to the growth of the cordial relations between Nepal and France. Are we prepared to do something positive for the sake of giving a good touch to Nepal-France relations instantly?