Kathmandu: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song's remarks on the trade of electricity and other goods between Nepal and India as well as on the economic growth of Nepal's southern neighbour have courted controversy.

Addressing a discussion entitled "China in global economy and its impact in Nepal", organised on Saturday by the Foundation for Trans Himalayan Research and Studies and Friends of Silk Road Club Nepal, Ambassador Song said that Nepal could achieve economic prosperity more effectively through China.

He also questioned how Nepal could become self-sufficient when it was suffering losses from electricity trade with India and suggested that Nepal's policies with India and other countries were not beneficial.

Ambassador Song's comments have been widely criticized for being undiplomatic and violating diplomatic standards. Foreign affairs expert Arun Kumar Subedi called for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to diplomatically inquire about Ambassador Song's comments and raised questions about whether they were intentional or unintentional.

Some government officials have also expressed concern about the Chinese ambassador's comments, saying that they have unnecessarily invited controversy over Nepal's relations with neighbouring countries.

The government has not yet issued any formal response to Ambassador Song's remarks.

The Chinese ambassador's comments come at a time when Nepal is trying to balance its relations with China and India. Nepal shares a long border with India and the two countries have close economic and cultural ties. However, Nepal has also been seeking to strengthen its ties with China in recent years.

The Chinese ambassador's comments have raised concerns about the direction of Nepal's foreign policy, particularly in the context of its relations with both China and India.

It remains to be seen how the Nepal government will respond to the Chinese ambassador's comments. However, the controversy has highlighted the challenges Nepal faces in balancing its relations with its two powerful neighbours.