नेपालको वैदेशिक सम्बन्ध

Nepal played the role of a founding participant and supporter of the principles of non-alignment. Nepal took part in the first NAM summit at Belgrade in 1961 and has since followed non-alignment as the base of its foreign policy, speaking in NAM for world peace, national independence, sovereign equality of states, and the special problems of small and landlocked countries.

Nepal and Japan have had friendly and cordial relations since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties on 1 September 1956 (17 Bhadra 2013 BS). The relationship rests on goodwill, development cooperation and cultural exchange, and Japan is one of Nepal's most important development partners.

Political relations: The two countries cooperate in the United Nations and other forums on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference. Members of the Japanese imperial family, prime ministers and Nepali heads of government have exchanged high-level visits. Japan supported Nepal's peace process and democratic transition.

Economic and development cooperation: Japan, mainly through JICA, gives grants, technical cooperation and concessional loans. Examples of Japanese-supported projects include:

• the Sunsari-Morang Irrigation Project in eastern Nepal;
• the Kali Gandaki A Hydropower Project, with Japanese financing;
• the expansion of Tribhuvan International Airport;
• the Sindhuli Road and other roads, bridges and hundreds of suspension bridges in the hills;
• health, education and water supply projects, including support to hospitals and schools.

Japan also gave large relief and reconstruction assistance after the 2015 earthquake.

Cultural and people-to-people relations: Buddhism, Lumbini (the birthplace of the Buddha) and Himalayan mountaineering attract many Japanese visitors. Japanese volunteers (JOCV) work in Nepal, and many Nepali students and workers go to Japan, strengthening exchange.

Conclusion: Nepal-Japan relations are friendly and mutually beneficial. Japan's continuing help in development, education and disaster recovery has made it a reliable friend of Nepal.

Nepal lies between India and China, and its trade with the two neighbours differs greatly in size and nature. The condition of this tripartite trade relationship can be explained as follows.

1. Nepal-India trade (dominant)

• Trade is governed by the Treaty of Trade and Transit (first signed in 1950 and later renewed and revised in 1960, 1971, 1978, 1991, 1996 and 2009), alongside the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 that gives Nepali citizens and goods special access.
• India is Nepal's largest trading partner, accounting for roughly 60 percent or more of total trade.
• Nepal exports goods such as soybean and palm oil products, pulses, cardamom, ginger, jute and textile goods, while it imports petroleum products, machinery, vehicles, medicines, cement, and food grains.
• Nepal has a large and growing trade deficit with India, and the open border supports trade but also smuggling.

2. Nepal-China trade (growing but limited)

• China is Nepal's second-largest trading partner, but trade is mostly one-way: Nepal imports electronics, machinery, clothing and consumer goods, while its exports (herbs, handicrafts, woollen products) are small.
• The trade deficit with China is very large.
• Trade passes through border points such as Rasuwagadhi-Kerung and Tatopani-Zhangmu, but the Himalayan terrain and poor roads raise costs.
• Cooperation has widened through the Belt and Road Initiative (framework signed in 2017, with a BRI Framework in 2019) and the Transit Transport Agreement (2016), which allows Nepal to use Chinese seaports such as Tianjin.

3. Transit and the tripartite situation

• Nepal is landlocked and relies mainly on Indian ports (Kolkata/Haldia and Visakhapatnam) for third-country trade.
• Nepal seeks to diversify its trade through Chinese routes, but distance, cost and weak connectivity keep dependence on India high.
• Proposals for a trilateral economic corridor, with Nepal as a "bridge" between the Indian and Chinese economies, exist, but little has been put into practice.

Challenges: huge trade deficits, dependence on India, poor transport links, non-tariff barriers, low productivity and export capacity.

Conclusion: Nepal's tripartite trade is marked by heavy dependence on India, a rising but small trade with China, and the need to use its position between the two giants through balanced diplomacy and better connectivity.