KATHMANDU: The Nepal Economic Forum (NEF) on Monday launched its ‘Nepal-China 101’ report, examining Nepal-China relations across business, renewable energy and tourism following a two-year study.
The report was unveiled at an event featuring Dr. Brian Wong, assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong, as the keynote speaker. Wong offered insights into the evolving dynamics of Nepal-China engagement and challenged conventional approaches to diplomacy, highlighting how historical legacies continue to influence contemporary geopolitical choices.
Arya Awale, coordinator of the Nepal-China 101 project, presented the study’s key findings, outlining major opportunities and challenges in Nepal’s economic and strategic engagement with China.
Aneka Rebecca Rajbhandari, co-founder of the Araniko Project and a commentator at the event, also reflected on Nepal-China relations. She cautioned against rushing to frame bilateral relations primarily through a geopolitical lens, noting that institutional distance can often outweigh Nepal’s geographic proximity to China.
The event was opened and concluded by Sujeev Shakya, chair of the Nepal Economic Forum, who reiterated NEF’s commitment to fostering informed public discourse on Nepal’s key economic and development trajectories.
The report seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of Nepal-China relations by examining the practical dimensions of bilateral engagement in sectors with significant implications for Nepal’s economic future.
