BEIJING – India watches with anxiety as Nepal which was historicallydependant on India has agreed with China to expand connectivity anddevelopment of Trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional transport network,according to an official statement today.
The agreement has been made “for attaining common prosperity byincorporating areas such as railway line, trading port, air transport,electricity and communication”, said a press communique issued by theForeign Ministry of Nepal on conclusion of the five-day official visit toChina by Foreign Minister Pradip Gyawali, who returned Kathmandu today.
“During his bilateral talk with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the twoleaders agreed to expedite works relating to implementing variousagreements and understandings reached during the visits paid by PrimeMinister KP Oli and (former) Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”in 2016 and 2017 respectively,” according to the release.
“We have also agreed to give continuity to exchange of high level visitsbetween the two countries for promoting bilateral relations based on mutualtrust and friendship,” Gyawali told media at the Tribhuvan InternationalAirport upon arrival here.
The two sides also agreed to set up a bilateral coordination andimplementation mechanism in order to facilitate effective implementation ofprojects being operated under Nepal-China cooperation, he said.
During the visit, Gyawali also discussed with his Chinese counterpartmatters relating to preparation of feasibility study and detailed projectreport of a trans-national railway line connecting Kerung (Nepal-Chinaborder) Kathmandu and Lumbini (Nepal-India border).
During bilateral talks the two leaders also stressed on the need forpromoting bilateral relations through construction of road network,infrastructure, trade and tourism under Belt and Road Initiative and toidentify various projects so as to facilitate formulating time frame fortheir implementation, according to Foreign Ministry sources. Gyawali hasasked the Chinese business community to make more investments in Nepal andto transfer technology for promoting business relations between the twocountries, the sources said.
He also appreciated Chinese President Xin Ping’s initiative for “building acommunity of shared future for humanity” during his meeting with VicePresident Wang Quishan.