A "stable" Nepal would encourage cooperation between China and India
by Kalpit Parajuli
Caught between the two giants, the Republic could promote trade relations and cooperation in the energy sector. To achieve the goal, Nepal must ensure domestic governability. The Kathmandu trilateral meeting to be replicated in Beijing and New Delhi. Nepalese expert: we need "peace and stability in the region."

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - Nepal can act as a "catalyst" to promote active cooperation between China and India, in a regional framework of a "tripartite relationship" that might facilitate the further growth of the two most important economies in the world. So says the Nepalese Institute for Strategic and International Studies, at the end of a meeting between representatives of the three countries organized by the Nepalese think tank in Kathmandu. However, the researchers add, the Republic must ensure political, economic and social "stability", to achieve the goal.

Political leaders, security experts, thinkers present at the trilateral summit from Nepal, India and China have agreed that stability in the smallest of the three countries, is a key factor in relations between the two giants. There is a need to promote policies that strengthen key areas including "trade, security and development."

At the moment the possibility of cooperation revolves around travel and tourism, and does not preclude the possibility of involving the key energy sector in the next meetings - set to take place in Beijing and New Delhi at the end of March.

Shekhar Koirala, a member of the Central Committee of the Nepali Congress confirms the "common issues" between the countries, such as "water resources, development, trade and tourism" and stresses that it is necessary to bring China and India closer, to ensure "peace and stability in the region" .

Tshering Chonzom, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, adds that a climate of "trust" is fostered between the three countries, a period of "prosperity" will follow. He points out that Beijing can not work alone in an attempt to gain international supremacy, "without the trust of neighboring countries."

Liu Jiawei, a professor at Sichuan University (China) and an expert on Sino-Asian relations, states that "security, economy and trade are among the most important issues" across all three states. For this, the expert concludes, "mutual understanding and cooperation" is necessary.