BEIJING – China today proposed an India-Nepal-China economic corridor withmulti-dimensional connectivity through the Himalayas as it seeks to expandits influence over the new Nepalese government headed by Prime Minister KPSharma Oli, widely regarded as pro-Beijing.
China’s proposal came after visiting Nepalese Foreign Minister PradeepKumar Gyawali held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
“Let me say China and Nepal have agreed on a long-term vision of amulti-dimensional cross Himalaya connectivity network,” Mr Wang told ajoint press briefing along with Mr Gyawali after their talks.
Mr Gyawali is on his maiden visit to Beijing after the KP Sharma Oli-ledgovernment came to power in the recently held elections.
Mr Wang said China and Nepal have already signed an agreement on theChina’s multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in whichconnectivity cooperation is a part.
It included a long-term vision such as connectivity network and coveringthe links between the two countries though ports, railways, highways,aviation, power and communications.
“We believe that such a well-developed connectivity network can also createconditions for an economic corridor connecting China, Nepal and India,” MrWang said.
“We hope that such cooperation will contribute to development andprosperity for all the three countries,” he said.
Reacting to a question whether Mr Gyawali’s visit to China was aimed atcounterbalancing the recent visit by Prime Minister Oli to India, his firstvisit abroad after taking over as Prime Minister, Mr Wang sought to makeout a case for trilateral cooperation between India, China and Nepal.
He said Beijing and New Delhi should facilitate such a cooperation.
“China, Nepal and India are natural friends and partners. We are neighboursconnected by rivers and mountains. This is a fact that cannot be changed bywhatever changes taking place in the world and inside the three countries,”Mr Wang said.
“Support for Nepal’s development should be a common understanding betweenChina and India. As two major emerging economies, China and India shalldeliver the benefits to their neighbour Nepal included in their owndevelopment,” he said.
“Nepal on its part should leverage its geographical advantage and connectChina and India for greater development. Nepal stands as a naturalbeneficiary from cooperation from China and India. I think this is alogical desire that should be supported by China and India,” he said.
The pro-active initiatives by China came as Nepalese Prime Minister Oli,who is widely regarded as pro-China, during his last tenure as PrimeMinister signed a transit treaty with Beijing in 2016 ending thedecades-long dependence on India for commodity and energy supplies for hisland locked country.
He also sought railway connectivity between the two countries through Tibetwhich China is currently building.