Nepal becoming Dialogue Partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has given the status of Dialogue Partner to Nepal. It is being considered a sign of Nepal's growing international identity. But many Nepalese diplomats believe that while strengthening ties with the new group, now Nepal will have to proceed more carefully in the diplomatic realm.

During the meeting of foreign ministers of SCO held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan last week, it was decided to give dialogue partner status to Nepal.

In terms of population, geography and economy, the SCO is the largest regional organization in the world after the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding to join the SCO in 2016. KP Sharma Oli who was the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) was the Prime Minister at that time. During his visit to Beijing, he signed the relevant MoU.          

According to Amar Ujala, Nepalese diplomats say that the observer or dialogue partner country does not have much role in any regional organization. Despite this, if Nepal wants, it can take full advantage of this new opportunity. But this will require serious homework. These diplomats have pointed out that the SCO also has military and security aspects, so Nepal has to proceed with caution.      

In the MoU signed by Nepal, there is a provision to cooperate with the SCO in the field of trade, transit, investment, energy, agriculture, education, health and tourism, besides security. A senior official of Nepal's Foreign Ministry told the newspaper Kathmandu Post that SCO is also a forum for talking in politics, military and security related matters. But Nepal can get benefits in the economic field, as both India and China are members of this organization. He said that with both India and China being members, the chances of Nepal getting caught in their tussle will be less. But its relationship with America may suffer.      

In the last one year, the perception has strengthened that Nepal's ties with the US and other Western countries are getting stronger. China has also expressed its unhappiness towards the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba government regarding this. Now speculations are being made that Nepal becoming a dialogue partner of SCO will not make any difference in this situation.              

The Foreign Ministry official said that it is wrong to think that becoming a dialogue partner of the SCO on the initiative of China will affect Nepal's relations with Western countries. He said, 'India and China are members of SCO. Both have helped Nepal to get this status. Therefore, Nepal should not hesitate to join the SCO. But we do need to be vigilant in military and security matters. 

Some officials have said that Nepal should keep trying to become a full member of the SCO. The Nepal government had expressed such a desire in 2018.