Name: Chintamani Pokharel, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Abstract:

Trans-Himalayan cooperation, emerged as a new concept very recently, has been an important issue of bi/multilateral regional cooperation in the areas of research and development initiatives of 21st century in South Asia. It has drawn attention of South Asian countries to be engaged with various kinds of bi/multilateral academic and development initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by the People’s Republic of China, which could be a foundational basis of development in the region. It was reflected in the presentations of an international seminar, entitled “Exploring Issues on Trans-Himalayan Cooperation”, organized by Trans-Himalayan Research Centre (THRC) of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FOHSS) at Tribhuvan University (TU) on 21 May, 2016.

Based on the presentations of scholars from Nepal, China and Korea (Uprety, 2016; Subedi, 2016; Khanal, 2016; Dhakal, 2016; Poudyal, 2016; Tao Li, 2016; Huang, 2016; KC, 2016; Xiang, 2016), this paper argues that the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China will explore multiple possibilities of China’s cooperation in South Asia and other developing regions. The significance of such trans-Himalayan cooperation would significantly be important in terms of geo-politics, development, bi/multilateral relationship among the countries of South Asia in changing global context of the 21st century. It has also been important from a development perspective with priority of the Himalayan security.

Beyond that the geo-politics in South Asian countries including China and India were not only important from an economic and political point of view but also from promoting multilateral regional cooperation in South Asia particularly in the Asia Pacific collaboration between China, India and other countries. This paper, based on the presentations of the seminar, further argues that the Belt and Road Initiative will not only be “Connecting the peoples along the routes of Belt and Road” but also promoting multilateral regional cooperation in future strengthening South Asian regional cooperation. It will also open up many possibilities of mutual support for economic development in South Asia.

One of the examples is Sichuan University, a research center of South Asian Study, which is providing bilateral cooperative academic activities among the countries of South Asia including Nepal. Very recently THRC has been established within TU which hopefully could be another important center of South Asian Study to bring researchers from different countries of South Asia in one place for multilateral cooperation and practice. Through these centers and other initiatives, the cooperation can be reached in livelihood, climate change, trade and business, diplomatic relations, and development. It eventually promotes Multilateral Regional Cooperation in South Asia taking into consideration that connectivity is key that connects different regions within and outside nations. However, connectivity alone is not enough, and it is essential to develop corridor to contribute economic development of countries. It is therefore necessary to promote various kinds of bi/multilateral regional cooperation for the development of trans-Himalaya region of South Asia.

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