Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s ambassadorial nominee for India, Dr Nischal Nath Pandey, has said that he will focus on attracting Indian investment and technology to Nepal by shifting the emphasis of bilateral engagement from traditional diplomacy to economic diplomacy.
Speaking during his parliamentary hearing at the Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Monday, Pandey said he would work to facilitate investment and technology transfer from India, while ensuring that his efforts are aligned with Nepal’s policies and priorities.
Stating that the number of Indian tourists visiting Nepal as significantly lower than the number of Indian tourists travelling abroad, Pandey emphasized on concerted efforts to bring more Indian tourists to Nepal. “We need to bring special programs for serving Indian government employees to encourage them to visit Nepal,” he added.
Although Nepal has direct air connectivity with major Indian cities, including New Delhi, Varanasi, Bengaluru and Mumbai, he said efforts should be made to make flights to Kolkata regular.
Pandey suggested expanding the use of technology, including using drones and implementing a smart border system operating round the clock for border security.
He also identified electricity exports as an important means of reducing Nepal’s trade imbalance with India. “I will work to facilitate the smooth import and export of electricity between the two countries,” he added.
Pandey said his role and responsibilities as Nepal’s ambassador would be based on Nepal’s policies, directives and priorities.
Meanwhile, ambassadorial nominee for China, Dr Kalyan Raj Sharma, has said he will work to ensure that Nepal derives practical benefits from its relations with China.
Speaking during his parliamentary hearing on Monday, Sharma said his main objective, if appointed, would be to maintain political trust and create an environment in which Nepal and the Nepali people could benefit tangibly from bilateral cooperation.
He said sovereign equality, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, non-interference in internal affairs and Nepal’s commitment to the ‘One China’ principle were the key foundations of relations between the two countries.
Sharma said he would focus on implementing existing agreements, expanding access to the Chinese market for Nepali products and tourism and facilitating productive investment from China.
He also highlighted the need to strengthen border and transit arrangements, promote cooperation in disaster resilience and improve consular services for Nepali citizens.
Sharma said he would seek to expedite the operationalization of access routes to the four Chinese seaports and three land ports available to Nepal under the transit transport agreement to facilitate Nepal’s international trade.
