August 1, 1955, was the year diplomatic relations between Nepal and China were established. In 2023, in our article titled “68 years of Nepal - China relations: Language and Diplomacy”, our co-founder Aneka Rebecca Rajbhandari stressed on how understanding the language of each other remains an important tool in diplomacy. This year, on the 69th anniversary, we look back at some of the iconic photographs that shows the journey of Chinese assistance to Nepal.
The agreement between the Chinese government and the Nepali government on the construction of a highway from Tibet to Kathmandu. Signed in Beijing on October 15, 1961. (Photo by Meng Qingbiao)
The protocol between the Chinese and Nepali governments regarding the construction of the irrigation canal headwork and the western main canal project was signed on October 4, 1964, in Beijing. (Photo by Liu Qingrui)
(Photo by Photo by Meng Xianquan)
Marshal Chen Yi and his entourage visited the Nepali tannery and shoe factory under construction on April 1, 1965. The factory began construction in early April 1963 and was soon put into production. (Assisted by Shanghai). (Photo by Jin Bihua)
Protocol between the Chinese government and the Nepali government regarding highway construction was signed on August 29, 1965, in Beijing. (Photo by Qian Shijie)
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1966: Chinese highway experts working in Nepal and young Nepali workers are jointly studying drilling machine technology. (Source: Xinhua News, photographer unknown)
1967: Chinese workers assisting with the "Kathmandu-Kodari" highway project in Nepal are bandaging the wounds of their Nepali colleagues. (Source: Xinhua News, photographer unknown)
1968: Doctors from the Chinese engineering and technical team participating in the construction of the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway treated the children of Nepali migrant workers. (Source: unknown)
1972: Technicians from the Chinese cotton planting inspection team assisting Nepal with trial cotton planting. (Photo by Jin Bihua)
1976: Nepal's first trolleybus line, the Kathmandu-Bhaktapur trolleybus line, was completed a year ahead of schedule after two years of hard work by workers and engineering technicians from both Nepal and China. (Photo by Wu Shijia)
The agreement between the Chinese government and the Kingdom of Nepal government regarding the construction of a complete set of projects was signed on October 1, 1978, in Beijing. (Photo by Guo Zhanying)
1979: Young workers at the Hetauda Textile and Dyeing Factory in Nepal learn techniques with the help of Chinese technicians. (Photo by Hao Zhangyin)
On October 20, 1981, Emerald Rana, the Secretary of the Nepali Ministry of Forestry, presented a male rhinoceros to China as a gift from the King on behalf of the Nepali government. In return, Ma Muming, the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, presented a pair of white-lipped deer, a pair of white-naped cranes, and a pair of black-leaf monkeys on behalf of the Chinese government. (First picture) The picture shows the animals being loaded onto the plane for transport to China. (Photo by Hao Zhangyin, Xinhua News)
The Hetauda Leather Factory in Nepal was the largest leather factory in South Asia. It was designed and installed by China, with all machinery and equipment imported from China. Construction began at the end of 1972 and was scheduled to officially start production on March 15, 1982. (Photo by Cai Junda)
On January 11, 1982, Nepali Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa presided over the completion ceremony of the Gorkha-Narayangarh highway, which was built with Chinese assistance, and cut the ribbon for its opening. Protocols were signed and exchanged regarding the reconstruction of the Friendship Bridge over the Sino-Nepal border river and the repair of the Kathmandu-Kodari section of the highway. (Photo by Hao Zhangyin)
On September 22, 1982, Liu Hua, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, presented a batch of sporting goods to Nepal on behalf of the Chinese government. (Photo by Cai Junda)
The Pokhara Hydropower Project in Nepal was inaugurated in mid-June 1985. The project was initiated based on an agreement signed between China and Nepal in 1976, with construction beginning in November 1981. (Photo by He Changcheng)
The Kathmandu Tannery and Shoe Factory was built with Chinese assistance in 1964. （Photo by Ou Qiming）
The Bhrikuti Pulp and Paper in Nepal, built with Chinese assistance, was completed and put into operation in December 1986. (Source: Xinhua News, photographer unknown)
The Chinese government donated 20 trucks with a load capacity of 6.4 tons to Nepal on December 3, 1991, to assist Nepal in developing road infrastructure. (Photo by Wu Xiangxin)
1992: The Heilongjiang Multi-Purpose Hydropower Development Company contracted the technical renovation project of the Chaku-Khola Hydropower Station in Nepal for $8.2 million. (Photo by Yin Gaole)
Nepal's Gorkari Tire Factory, built by China, was officially put into operation on December 10, 1992. The factory had an annual output of 88,000 standard sets of automobile tires. (Photo by Yin Gaole)
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(Photo by Wu Xiangxin)
Meeting with the engineering and technical personnel participating in the construction assistance work. On November 18, 1993, the inauguration ceremony of the Nepal International Convention Center was held. The conference center was provided free of charge by China to the Kingdom of Nepal and cost more than 100 million yuan in total. (Source: Xinhua News, photographer unknown)
The handover ceremony and opening ceremony of the Pokhara-Baglung highway in Nepal built with free assistance from China was held in Pokhara, a tourist resort in Nepal, at the end of June 1994.
On December 1, 1996, the foundation stone of the "Chinese Temple" was laid in Lumbini, Nepal. (Source: Xinhua News, photographer unknown)
The following photographs are reference from Jiyingzhai subscription page on wechat.
