Since its establishment in December 1985, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has sought to increase economic integration among India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Later Afghanistan joined the SAARC to bring peace and development. While the economic grouping was designed to improve both economic and social condition of its member states, concerns have been raised over SAARC’s ability to promote economic cooperation among its members.

The South Asians have attempted to compare SAARC with other regional trading bodies such as the European Union and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Unlike the EU or ASEAN, trade between the SAARC nations has remained limited despite the fact that all are located within a close proximity of one another and all have shared the world trade.

A growing emphasis on attracting foreign investment and seeking access to new markets in SAARC nations indicates that economic progress is central to the future of South Asia.

SAARC, however, has played only a limited role and it would not be changed in the future because of the tussle between India and Pakistan. SAARC has become a non-functional regional bloc.

Suman Kumar Regmi, Kupondole

Diplomacy

This has reference to the news story “Dahal discusses cooperation with Xi, Modi” (THT, October 17, Page 1). We all hear the news about our honourable Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and China’s President Xi Jinping meeting in the BRICS summit in Goa.

Indeed, at that meeting, the Chinese president showed interest to visit Nepal “at the earliest convenient date”. The Nepal government’s diplomatic channels should focus on this issue with a serious note. As a result, Chinese president Xi Jinping will visit Nepal within this year.

However, time and again it is blamed that the Nepal government’s diplomatic channel cannot work quickly as per the expectations of the political leadership.

Now, the time has to come to rectify our working style with utmost sincerity. In such a way, the government’s diplomatic channels will be negotiating with their Chinese counterparts to materialize Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal. On the way to the Goa summit, the Chinese president visited Bangladesh signing a deal amount to billions of dollars.

But the Nepal government failed to do the same as it lacked preparations and clear vision about what it intends to do with the northern neighbour.

We cannot afford to ignore its global presence.

Therefore, Nepal should materialize the agreement reached between the two nations during KP Oli’s visit. Bilateral agreements make no sense when one or the other side is unwilling to implement it.

Nepal will immensely benefit from the One Belt, One Road initiative pursued by the Chinese government to connect the entire Asia through roads, railways and air transport.

Saroj Wagle, Bara