King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal visited China a total of ten times during his reign. He dealt with all major generations of Chinese leadership—from Mao Zedong to Jiang Zemin—to secure bilateral support, promote economic development, and establish the Zone of Peace proposal. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key historic milestones and context of his trips include:
1. The Historic 1973 State Visit
- Meeting with Mao Zedong: They famously met Chairman Mao Zedong in Zhongnanhai. Mao discussed the geopolitical realities of small and big countries, emphasizing that small nations should not be bullied. Mao expressed a desire for a railway connecting China to the Nepalese border to boost trade. [1]
2. The 1993 Shenzhen Visit
King Birendra's 1993 trip to China is often remembered for a dramatic incident in the city of Shenzhen. [1]
- Flood Rescue: During their visit, the King and Queen were trapped in their hotel by record-breaking flash floods. The Shenzhen municipal government dispatched motorboats to evacuate them safely from their hotel balcony, an event that made headlines in China. [1]
3. The Final Visit in 2001 (Boao Forum)
King Birendra's tenth and final visit to China occurred in late February and early March of 2001. [1]
- Boao Forum for Asia: The King visited Hainan Province to attend the founding ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia.
- Leadership Meetings: During his time in Beijing, he held high-level discussions with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji, and other top officials to strengthen good-neighborly partnerships and deepen economic cooperation between Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [1, 2]
For a breakdown of King Birendra's political motivations and the broader context of his diplomacy with both China and India:
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