Outgoing Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has taken credit for balancing the country’s bilateral relations with India and China that were apparently on a shaky ground when he took up the top post in August 2016. 

In his televised address to the nation, organised to announce his resignation, on Wednesday afternoon, Dahal claimed that Nepal’s relations with its immediate neighbouring nations were fraught with pessimism and distrust, which his government was able to steer towards amicable terms.  

“Shortly after the formation of this government, we took concrete steps to normalise bilateral ties with India and China by sending two special envoys for confidence building and normalisation of the ties, he said. “The government signed some landmark deals, including China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and with India, we signed several agreements in the fronts such as economic cooperation, infrastructure development, energy and education.” 

On Nepal becoming a part of China’s One Belt One Road undertaking, Dahal said it was a crucial step taken by his government that will be instrumental in country’s economic growth. He also hailed his government’s decision to hand over the development of 1,200 MW Budhigandaki Hydroelectricity Project to a Chinese company as an important step not only in the field of power generation, but also in attracting foreign investment to the country.

Dahal said that people-to-people as well as diplomatic relations with India and China were revived and strengthened during his tenure as the country’s prime minister—his second time— that lasted little over 10 months. He added that the exchange of visits at the presidental level between Nepal and India, his own trip to India and China, as well as his participation in the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit as the head of the BIMSTEC member country opened Nepal’s engagements with India and China.  

“A balanced foreign policy and strengthened ties with neighbouring nations were achieved while I served as the prime minister,” he said.