The government on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China policy amid criticism over its decision to allow Tibetans in Nepal to celebrate the 91st birth anniversary of the Dalai Lama.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri did not directly refer to the controversy but said Nepal’s longstanding policy remained unchanged.

“Nepal is committed to the one-China policy,” Chhetri said. “Nepal remains steadfast in its established policy of not allowing its territory to be used against the interests of any neighbouring country or any friendly nation.”

His remarks came days after former foreign ministers and Nepal’s former ambassador to China questioned whether the government had deviated from its one-China policy by allowing the July 6 celebration at Namgyal Residential Lower Secondary School in Nagarjun Municipality. Lawmakers from the CPN-UML and the Nepali Communist Party also raised the issue in Parliament, demanding clarification from the government.

The Dalai Lama’s birthday was marked by Tibetan communities around the world, including in Nepal.

At the briefing, Chhetri also said the ministry has expanded its economic diplomacy initiatives by preparing country-specific strategies for 20 countries.

According to him, strategy papers for India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Germany, Belgium, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates were completed last fiscal year. This year, the ministry prepared similar strategies for Bangladesh, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Malaysia, France, Russia, Canada and Turkey.

The ministry is also revising the Economic Diplomacy Programme Guidelines, 2014, to align them with current priorities and plans to designate focal persons at all Nepali diplomatic missions abroad to strengthen economic diplomacy.

On consular affairs, Chhetri said Nepal rescued and repatriated 836 citizens from online scam centres operating in Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand between July 17 last year and July 10 this year.

According to the ministry, 709 Nepalis were rescued from Cambodia, 113 from Myanmar, eight from Laos and six from Thailand.

Chhetri said the Cambodian government has been waiving visa overstay fees and penalties for stranded Nepalis following repeated requests from the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok, which is concurrently accredited to Cambodia.

“So far this year, Cambodia has waived visa fees and fines for 602 Nepalis, and we have requested similar waivers for others awaiting repatriation,” he said.

Since May 1, the embassy has also been issuing free one-way travel permits through an online application system for Nepalis who have lost their passports, facilitating their return from Cambodia.

Chhetri urged families of Nepalis still in Cambodia, particularly those reluctant to return, to encourage and assist them in coming home.

The ministry also announced that the Department of Passports will launch its upgraded passport system on Monday, despite the ongoing corruption case over passport procurement contracts awarded to two German firms.

“The ministry and the Department of Passports are committed to providing citizens with simple, efficient and reliable passport services,” Chhetri said. “The upgraded system will come into operation on Monday.”

He acknowledged that minor technical glitches could occur during the initial rollout but said services were expected to remain uninterrupted.

According to Chhetri, the upgraded system is designed to make passport services more accessible and technology-friendly. The ministry has also begun the process of allowing citizens to apply for passports from any district administration office or area administration office, regardless of their permanent address.