INTERVIEW WITH CHINESE AMBASSDOR ZHENG XIANGLIN

Excerpts of aninterview with His Excellency Zheng Xianglin, the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Nepal by Sudheer Sharma, editor of Nepal magazine.

Q. Is it only coincidence that you became the first ambassador to present credentials to the Prime Minister instead of the king? Or can we take this as a sign that China is positive about the establishment of a republic in Nepal?

Zheng Xianglin: We can say that it just happened. I was appointed as the Ambassador to Nepal when we received notice from the Nepali government that Nepal had amended the constitution. According to the interim constitution, the Prime Minister of Nepal is now the acting head of the state. So, the designated foreign Ambassadors should present letter of credentials to the Prime Minister.

Q. Where is Nepal in China's foreign policy priorities?

Zheng Xianglin: China has 14 boundary-countries and Nepal is one of them. China upholds the principles of independence, peace and self-reliance. On that basis we are willing to establish friendly diplomatic relationships with all the countries in the world.

Chinese people and the government are ready to extend harmonious cooperation and coexistence with our neighbours and to enhance understanding and friendship. We would like to become good friends and good partners with our neighbours. China and Nepal has a dispute-free political relationship. Nowadays China has achieved economic development but we will never forget our friends and our neighbours. China is yet to support Nepal and we will extend our support to the best of our capacity.

Q. How are you observing Nepal's ongoing peace process? Is Nepal entering stability?

Zheng Xianglin: From last year, we have been very glad to see that the peace process in Nepal has achieved significant developments and is now moving forward step by step. I think this process will keep going on, although encountering some difficulties.
We sincerely hope that all the parties concerned in Nepal can remain united and work together to push the peace process, to make contributions to the well being of the Nepali people as well as Nepal, the whole country.

So, are you satisfied with the ongoing peace process?

Zheng Xianglin: My stay in Nepal is not quite long but I have already communicated with the chief of UNMIN Ian Martin. I also read the report presented by the Secretary General of the UN to the Security Council about the political situation of Nepal. I think that UNMIN has made some achievements in Nepal. The Chinese side also accepts the importance of UNMIN's work here. We are also planning to send a political officer to this delegation.

Q. If the conflict escalated again in Nepal, then can China play any role to resolve it?

Zheng Xianglin: We are always working for peace and reconciliation. We sincerely hope that all the parties concerned can work on the basis of unity and compromise.

Q. Now, we are facing another type of conflict in the Terai. Some new armed groups have emerged there. How do you assess it, is it common during a transitional phase or is it an extraordinary case?

Zheng Xianglin: The Terai issue is an ethnic group issue, which has existed in Nepal for a long time. It is also a historical issue. It is purely an internal affair of Nepal. So I think the Nepali government as well as parties concerned should address this issue properly through dialogue. And I hope there should not be any foreign interference in this regard. This kind of internal issue, I think, exists in lots of countries (in transitional phases).

Q. It is believed that the Chinese government maintained a close relationship with the monarchy for a long period. Why?

Zheng Xianglin: It is totally a misconception. The Chinese government has always established very good relationships with the Nepali government and the Nepali (political) parties, of course, including the previous monarchy. The Communist Party of China has remained in frequent contact with many parties in Nepal. So, this is a quite normal relationship between countries and parties.

Q. How do you see the Maoists? The US has branded them as "terrorists", does China also think similarly?

Zheng Xianglin: The CPN Maoists have already joined the mainstream and now they are part of the interim government.

Q. My question is that, like the US, does your country also see them as terrorists even after they joined the government?

Zheng Xianglin: The Maoists have now become one part of the coalition government of eight political parties. It is a legal government and accepted by the Nepali people. I think the US also accepts this coalition government. And as for the terrorist label, I think different people have different assessments. American Ambassador Moriarty has told me that he also would like to shake hands with Prachanda.

Q. What is your relationship like with the Maoists?

Zheng Xianglin: No formal relationship.

Q. Have you met any Maoist leaders?

Zheng Xianglin: Except for my meeting with Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Matrika Yadav to exchange opinions on how to defeat cross-border economic crimes and with the Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara during a public function, we don't have formal interactions with other Maoist leaders. We don't have a party level formal relationship.

Q. And an informal relationship?

Zheng Xianglin: As for informal interaction, I would like to tell you that the Chinese media has interviewed Prachanda. And we also have some informal encounters in some receptions.

Q. If the Maoists led the government in future, then China may recognize them?

Zheng Xianglin: You just put this up as an assumption, so it is difficult to answer.

Q. Why does China maintain a low-profile diplomatic policy in Nepal, compared to other influential countries?

Zheng Xianglin: I think it may not be correct to put it like that, low-profile. I have been quite high-profile during my more than one month stay here. Every day, I have at least five activities. I have already met a dozen governmental officials, ministers, leaders of major political parties and most of the foreign ambassadors here.
China upholds the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. We respect the choices of the people, made of the political structure of that country. I think foreigners have no right to make incorrect comments about that.

Q. But some foreign diplomats like the US and Indian Ambassadors are commenting on Nepal's internal affairs very openly. What do you think about that?

Zheng Xianglin: We have no comment on that. We uphold our own principles.

Q. Some people believe that the US is trying to encircle China through Nepali territory. What is your opinion?

Zheng Xianglin: Nowadays China-US relations witness a smooth and healthy development. We have also promoted relationships with other western countries from Europe as well as India. I am sure of the further development of relationships between China and western countries in the future. There will be further mutual understanding and mutual trust. Now is not the time of the cold war.
Q. We can see some "free Tibet" activities here. Is this really a threat to Chinese security?

Zheng Xianglin: The Nepali government has already made the sincere commitment that Nepalese territory will not be used by the Tibet separatist forces against China. We are a little bit worried about the activities done by the separatist forces here. We will work closely with the Nepali government to oppose this kind of separatist activities in Nepal against China. We hope that the Nepal government upholds its commitments. China cannot compromise with the Tibetan issue, because this is related to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country. The Nepal government has understood our sensitivities quite well.

Q. Nepal is facing a shortage of petroleum products lately and we have heard that China is ready to provide petroleum products. Is it true?

Zheng Xianglin: These days we have also witnessed long queues in front of the petrol stations not far from our embassy. China is also a big petroleum consuming country. Half of the petroleum supply of China relies on importing petroleum. But nowadays our neighbour Nepal has difficulties, including in petroleum supplies, so we will of course do something.
During the meeting with Prime Minister Koirala, we talked about the supply of petroleum from China. But about this, we still need a concrete proposal and suggestions from the Nepali side. If the Nepali side can facilitate us with a concrete proposal, the Chinese side will take that into positive consideration.

QIn 1962, Marshal Chen Yi, then Deputy Premier of China, had commented that any foreign intervention in Nepal will not be tolerable for China. Does China still follow that policy or has it shifted from that?

Zheng Xianglin: No, No! Our policy has not changed. The traditional friendship between Nepal and China has lasted for a long time even till today. I am sure that this friendship will go on in the future from generation to generation.

Q. This means the Chinese government will treat the problems of the Nepali people like they treat those of the Chinese people?

Zheng Xianglin: That's the meaning. When Nepali people face difficulties and pain, we will take that as ours; especially when Nepali people face some difficulties to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any foreign intervention in Nepal will not be tolerable for China.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, June 13, 2007