Nepal in Parliamentary Diplomacy: Expanding Role in a Changing Global Order

Diplomacy is as old as civilization itself. Historical records indicate that as early as 3,000 years ago, civilizations like the Sumerians and Assyrians engaged in diplomatic exchanges, forging treaties between kings and empires. The Treaty of Kadesh (1258 BC) between ancient Egypt and the Hittites is widely recognized as the world’s first written diplomatic agreement. In South Asia, diplomacy evolved through the strategic doctrines of Kautilya (Chanakya) in India, the interplay between statecraft and war in ancient China, and the balance of religion, commerce, and political power during the medieval period.

Nepal too has a rich history in diplomacy. In the medieval era, King Yaksha Malla attempted to build friendly ties with neighboring states, reflecting our long-standing diplomatic heritage.

The modern diplomatic era began around 1500 AD, marking the emergence of national sovereignty as a guiding principle in foreign affairs and laying the groundwork for today’s nation-state system. With the establishment of the League of Nations in 1920, multilateral diplomacy was introduced as a mechanism for world peace. Since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, this organization has been regarded as the largest forum for world diplomacy.

Nepal has maintained friendly relations with neighboring countries since ancient times. After joining the United Nations in 1955, Nepal began engaging in modern diplomacy and is currently active in many diplomatic forums such as NAM, SAARC, and BIMSTEC, along with the United Nations. In the 21st century, new trends began to emerge, such as parliamentary diplomacy, public diplomacy, citizen diplomacy, cyber diplomacy, and climate diplomacy. The rising role of digital media and social media has also brought about changes in diplomatic practices.

Parliamentary Diplomacy

Parliamentary diplomacy refers to diplomatic activities conducted by members of a country’s parliament or legislature as an alternative to diplomacy conducted by traditional diplomats or government officials. It involves building relationships, exchanging ideas, and expanding dialogue between parliaments and parliamentarians of different countries to advance common goals, address global challenges, and foster mutual understanding between nations.

Such diplomacy is often conducted through bilateral or multilateral meetings, parliamentary assembly conferences, and other institutional programs. These programs help parliamentarians share their experiences and advocate for their national interests. In addition to formal meetings, informal networking and dialogue also play an important role in parliamentary diplomacy. Conferences such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), and others are excellent examples of parliamentary diplomacy.

Nepal in Parliamentary Diplomacy

Over the past few decades, the Federal Parliament of Nepal has expanded parliamentary diplomacy practices. The two Houses of Parliament have made a significant presence while engaging actively in international forums such as the IPU on issues including democracy, sustainable development, gender equality, and peacebuilding. Foreign visits by parliamentarians to participate in various forums, the establishment of parliamentary friendship groups, and participation in multilateral dialogues are important practices of parliamentary diplomacy. For a developing country like Nepal, parliamentary diplomacy serves as an effective tool to promote the country’s prosperity, development, and international relations.

Since joining the IPU in 1967, Nepal has maintained a continuous high-level presence. Beginning with the 86th IPU Assembly in 1991, Nepal has sent delegations led by the Speaker and Chair of the National Assembly. Recently, Nepal marked a historic achievement by being represented for the first time in the standing committees under the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). At the 150th IPU General Assembly held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, National Assembly Member Dr. Anjan Shakya was elected as a member of the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development. Likewise, Sobita Gautam, a member of the House of Representatives, was elected to the Health Committee. MP Shakya won the election representing the Asia-Pacific region. This marks the first time Nepal has held policymaking and decision-making roles within the IPU.

This achievement has broadened the scope of parliamentary diplomacy for Nepal. Compared to previous participation, Nepal now has access to understanding the internal workings of the IPU and contributing to leadership development. Our lawmakers have been able to present their views and experiences on global agendas such as health and sustainable development on the international stage, enhancing Nepal’s presence and influence. This indicates that Nepal’s parliamentary diplomacy has now progressed from the ‘formal participation and opinion-making’ stage to the ‘decision-making’ process.

To advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we are going to organize a regional seminar in Nepal. During that seminar, the IPU President and Secretary-General for Asia-Pacific will visit Nepal. Simultaneously, we are also working to host the General Assembly of the IPU. For that, an exchange program has been held with the Inter-Parliamentary Organisation (INTER PARES) and Ireland, in which high-ranking officials of the Federal Parliament Secretariat of Nepal have participated. Moreover, a visit to Australia and Malaysia was led by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the National Assembly, with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly also participating. Furthermore, Nepal is being represented at the Speakers’ Conference while also organizing the Hindu Kush Himalaya Conference next month. The coordination of this has been entrusted to the Agriculture Committee of Parliament.

My Priorities

Since being elected to the House of Representatives on January 19, 2023, I have highly prioritized parliamentary diplomacy as a mechanism to make parliamentary practice more effective. Efforts have been made to ensure Nepal’s leadership participation in international forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Nepal’s achievements at the 150th IPU General Assembly are the results of coordinated efforts, including my initiative to reach out to the Speakers of 35 countries to ensure Nepal’s active presence. The goal of involving Nepali parliamentarians in international committees and advancing their leadership roles has been highly fruitful.

Meanwhile, I believe Nepal should not only participate in these bilateral and multilateral parliamentary forums but also host such events. The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia has already visited Nepal, as have the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Ireland and the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Parliamentary visits and experience exchange programs have been held with friendly countries including India, China, the European Union, and the United States. Parliamentary friendship groups with 44 countries are being established, aiming to create a sustainable platform for cooperation. I believe such groups can be a great tool for expanding parliamentary diplomacy.

The visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Nepal in October 2023 and his address to Parliament held much significance and gained global attention. In particular, issues such as climate change and regional peace have been highlighted in international forums. Efforts have been made to internationalize Nepal’s impact on climate change by developing forums such as the Climate Parliament.

Priority has been given to courtesy visits and exchanges between parliamentary officials and high-ranking officials with diplomatic representatives of various countries. In such meetings, Nepal’s experience of inclusive democracy, including the peace process, constitution-making, and federalism, has been highly promoted.

My goal is to develop Nepal’s Parliament into a strong institution that plays an effective role in diplomatic activities through active engagement, strategic partnerships, and a clear vision. Parliamentary diplomacy not only reflects a nation’s foreign policy but also contributes to its formulation. For Nepal, the evolving practice of parliamentary diplomacy is not just complementary to traditional diplomacy, it is becoming an indispensable part of how we engage with the world.