Respected Chair,

Distinguished participants

Ladies and gentlemen!

On behalf of Nepal Communist Party, people of Nepal, a land of the world’s highest peak- Mount Sagarmatha (Everest), and Lumbini, birthplace of Gautam Buddha, an apostle of universal peace, I would like to extend my felicitations and revolutionary greetings to you all.

The Nepal Communist Party (NCP) congratulates the Communist Party of Greece on its centenary. We also extend sincere thanks to the Comrades of Greece for the arrangement of such a grand meeting inviting the leaders of Communist and Workers Parties of the world.

Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has come to power in overwhelming majority through multiparty competition gaining victory over the capitalist forces in elections held last year leading to the formation of a stable government under the leadership of our Chairman Comrade K.P. Sharma Oli with the vision of 'Prosperous Nepal: Happy Nepali'.

The NCP has truly set an example to all Communists of the world that given hard work, determination and commitment to serve the people of the lowest strata of the society, the road to socialism is also possible through ballot and dedication to the principles of constitutional supremacy, rule of law, free judiciary and human rights including assurances of fundamental rights, principle of separation of power, periodic elections as per democratic norms and values and good governance.

We believe in creative use of Marxism. Thus, we yearn for sharing revolutionary experiences in perspective to Nepali characteristics, its development, and objective realities. We believe that Marxism is still relevant and conducive for the cause of emancipation of working class from all kind of exploitations.

Although the form or nature is changed, exploitation, suppression, and repression of the working class continue in basic essence. At the same time, imperialist forces are continuing their tirade against countries not adequate with their selfish interest or ideology. Brutal attack on Palestine and Syria, prolonged state of blockade in Cuba, DPRK, Venezuela, and current trade war with China in pretence of trade deficit are some of the strategies of imperialist forces.

It is a matter of concern that capitalist forces are concentrating their search for squandering global wealth and asserting their markets in the name of free trade, liberalization, and globalization. It is against this background that consolidation among the working masses, progressive forces, and revolutionary people is quite obligatory today.

Coming back to the specific case of Nepal, we are happy to note that we have deeply internalized and used Marxism-Leninism in Nepal as per Nepali characteristics. This was best exemplified by unification of two major communist parties that had launched joint movement to pack off 240 years-old monarchy to history and establish a federal democratic republic under the constitution that seeks to promote socialism in Nepal.

Nepal underwent a tortuous process of prolonged political transition compounded by complicated peace process and political instability after a decade-long civil war claiming thousands of lives and billions of physical infrastructures. We are heartened to note that communists in Nepal have always taken a vanguard role in safeguarding the cause of working class people and are steadfast in promoting socialism as per our prevailing needs and standards.

Though being a least developed country, Nepal is still trying to establish a modest standard of living through optimum use of resources. Moreover, the Communist movement in Nepal is more adhesive than divisive. The NCP as one of the world’s biggest parties dedicated to the cause of working class, won 175 seats out of 275 in the Lower House of parliament with 63.63 percent representation. In the 59-member Upper House excluding three members nominated by the President, NCP has won 39 seats out of remaining 56 members, and holds 63.81 percent representation.

In seven provinces, out of 550 seats, 351 were bagged by NCP accounting 63.81 in percentage. Out of 753 local bodies consisting of 35,041 seats of people’s representatives, NCP has bagged 157 mayors, 166 deputies, 243 chairs in rural municipalities, 157 vice-chairs, 20,426 ward chairs, 4,940 women members, 3,710 Dalit women members and 7,414 through open contest accounting a total of 19,540 seats and 55.76 percent. Our party also holds in six out of seven regions with two-thirds majority and as the largest single party in a region where we are a major opposition to a coalition government.

NCP has invincible faith and indomitable trust upon the people. Until the communist party is consolidated, strengthened, and popularized among the vast masses, we can neither promote the common interest of the working class people nor fight against the imperialist forces. We cannot either annihilate the form of internal and external exploitations or contribute from our part in world peace making process and in building socialism.

I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers for grand management of this august gathering in this magnificent Athens, the historic city and heart of Greece, for warm hospitality and for creating a pleasant environment to share our experiences. I wish the conclave all success.

Long live Marxism-Leninism!

Long Live Socialism! 

(Speech by Bishnu Rijal, Central Committee Member, Nepal Communist Party,

November 23-25, 2018, Athens, Greece at 20th International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties with slogan of “The contemporary working class and its alliance, the tasks of its political vanguard – the Communist and Worker’s Parties – in the struggle against exploitation and imperialist wars, for the rights of the workers and of the peoples, for peace, for socialism”)