By Our Reporter 

 

A day after the formation of the new government under Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda in Nepal, the Chinese government injected new impetus into the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

The northern neighbour on Monday said that it would stand ready to work with the new Nepali government to expand and deepen friendly exchanges. 

And on Tuesday, the first batch of Chinese experts arrived in Kathmandu to conduct a feasibility study and survey of the cross-border railway. 

Stating that conducting the feasibility study and survey of the China-Nepal cross-border railway had been a long-cherished dream of the Nepali people and a vital consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu said that it was also an integral part of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Nepal. 

The two countries had signed a pact on the mega initiative that would create connectivity with the entire Eurasian region during the visit of Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Dr Narayan Khadka to China in August this year. Dr Khadka and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi had signed the agreement on behalf of their countries. 

This is probably the largest cross-border project being initiated after Nepal officially signed a framework agreement on the One Belt One Road Initiative in 2017. 

Meanwhile, two-way trade resumed via the Kerung-Rasuwagadhi border on Wednesday by organising a ceremony at the Kerung/Rasuwagadhi border port. 

The opening of two-way trade at Kerung port will promote Nepal’s exports to China, reduce the trade deficit in Nepal, cushion the trade imbalance, and further improve the connectivity between China and Nepal, said the northern neighbour. 

Meanwhile, one-way freight clearance at Pulan/Yari port has been reopened since Monday, December 26.

Energy infrastructure

While the border is opened for two-way trade with China, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has initiated the construction process for the 400KV Ratmate-Raswuagadhi-Kerung transmission line project. The NEA has recently concluded the detailed feasibility study of the project. 

The 70-km long cross-border transmission line will facilitate energy export to China as well. Currently, Nepal is exporting electricity to India and exploring opportunities to send it up to Bangladesh. China has constructed 1600-km transmission line up to Mansarovar while Nepal is developing a high-powered transmission line via Ratmate to Gorakhpur of India with support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation.