Nepal pitches itself as India-China bridge amid balanced diplomacy

Kathmandu,UPDATED: Aug 7, 2026 18:36 IST

Nepal wants to transform itself from a landlocked country into a "vibrant, dynamic bridge" connecting India and China, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said on Friday, underlining Kathmandu's effort to maintain balanced ties with its two neighbours.

Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day international conference titled 'China and South Asia in a Multipolar World', Khanal said Nepal welcomed the continued development and prosperity of both India and China. He said the country remained committed to strengthening relations with both on the basis of "sovereign equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit, and sensitivity to each other's legitimate interests and concerns".

The conference was jointly organised by the Centre for South Asian Studies, Fudan University, China, and the Nepal Institute for Cooperation and Engagement.

Khanal's remarks are significant as Nepal's new government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah has sought to pursue a balanced foreign policy towards its two immediate neighbours, while placing greater emphasis on economic diplomacy, investment and connectivity.

"Asia's transformation presents unprecedented opportunities for shared prosperity," Khanal said, adding that South Asia has enormous promise even though much of its economic potential remains untapped.

He said economic diplomacy had become "one of the defining priorities" of Nepal's external engagement and that the country's foreign policy was aimed at improving the lives of its people through trade, investment, employment, tourism, technology, innovation and sustainable development.

"Nepal sincerely welcomes the continued development and prosperity of both India and China and remains committed to further strengthening its longstanding bilateral relations with both neighbours independently, on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit, and sensitivity to each other's legitimate interests and concerns," he said.

"Nepal aspires to transform itself from a landlocked country into a vibrant, dynamic bridge connecting China and India," Khanal added.

Khanal's back-to-back visits to New Delhi and Beijing in June were seen as an early indication of Kathmandu's effort to maintain balanced ties with both neighbours. He had earlier said Nepal wanted to build stronger and deeper relations with both India and China, describing its southern and northern neighbours as vital partners for the Himalayan nation. Overall, his remarks on Friday reinforced Nepal's push to deepen ties with both countries while focusing on economic diplomacy and connectivity.

With PTI Inputs

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