PTI
BEIJING, MARCH 21
CHINA agreed on Monday to a request of Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to build a strategic railway link between the two countries through Tibet to reduce his land-locked country’s total dependence on India. The day also saw the two sides cementing their ties by signing 10 agreements, including a landmark transit trade deal.
Mr. Oli, who arrived here on Sunday on his maiden seven-day visit to China, was given a red carpet welcome by Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People. He also called on Chinese President Xi Jinping.
More supply routes from China
Mr. Oli’s high-profile visit comes as Nepal seeks to open more supply routes from China amid fears of a repeat of recent nearly six-month-long crippling blockade when the Indian-origin Madhesis blocked Nepal’s trade routes with India, throwing normal life out of gear.
During the talks, the two Prime Ministers made a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the steadily growing relations between the two countries.
For bolstering bilateral ties
“The two sides exchanged substantive views on further strengthening and consolidating mutual trust and understanding as well as promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields,” according to a press release issued by the Nepalese Foreign Ministry.
Trade diversification, cross-border connectivity and infrastructure development, cooperation on energy, tourism, finance, education and culture were among the matters that figured prominently during the talks, it said.
For extension of rail link with Tibet
During his talks with Mr. Li, Mr. Oli mooted the extension of China’s strategic railway link with Tibet further to Nepal.
Briefing the media after the Li-Oli talks, Hou Yanqi, deputy head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said: “Nepal Prime Minister wanted to explore two rail lines.”
“It was China’s
plan too”
Ms. Hou said the government would encourage Chinese firms to look at the internal rail plan and that China was already planning to extend the railway line from the Tibetan city of Shigatse to Gyirong on the Nepal border.
“Of course, a further extension from Gyirong is an even long-term plan. It’s up to geographic and technical conditions, financing ability. We believe that far in the future the two countries will be connected by rail,” she said.
10 agreements sealed
The two countries sealed 10 agreements, including the much-publicised transit trade treaty that will end Nepal’s total dependency on Indian sea ports for third-country trade.
The other agreements included a feasibility study on the establishment of a Free Trade Agreement, a treaty on economic and technical cooperation to build a Regional International Airport Project at Pokhara, Nepal’s famous tourist site, and a building a border bridge.
