Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda is visiting the Chinese mainland for an eight-day trip starting September 23. Chinese President Xi Jinping stated during their meeting, “This is your first visit to China after your third term as Prime Minister of Nepal. I am confident that it will yield fruitful results and provide new impetus to the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.”
Cultural camaraderie has been the foundation of Sino-Nepal ties, extending from people to state levels. The formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the People’s Republic of China in August 1955 set high hopes for deep cultural connections. The joint communique issued in 1955 emphasized the governments’ belief that diplomatic relations would promote further development in cultural and economic cooperation between the two nations.
In October 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Nepal. Prior to his arrival, President Xi authored an article for a Nepali newspaper, discussing Sino-Nepal ties from a historic and cultural perspective. President Xi highlighted that more than 1600 years ago, Chinese and Nepalese monks Fa Hien and Buddhabhadra traveled to each other’s countries to translate Buddhist scriptures into Chinese—a legacy that endures to this day.
President Xi also detailed other centuries-old cultural exchanges, including the marriage of Nepali Princess Bhrikuti to Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo during China’s Tang Dynasty, and the Chinese monk Huen Tsang’s pilgrimage to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, where he left valuable written accounts of his journey.
The rich cultural exchange between the two countries is deeply rooted in Buddhism and Hinduism, Nepal’s two largest religions. For Hindus, Shiva is the supreme God, and China’s Xizang Autonomous Region is home to Mount Kailash, the holiest Shiva shrine. Mount Kailash serves as a cultural and religious magnet, attracting millions of Hindus from Nepal, India, and around the world. The increasing number of visitors to Mount Kailash underscores China’s significant role as a beacon of Hindu and Vedic civilization.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
