PMINWAITING OLI MAKES VISIT TO NEPALCHINA BORDER POINT

In what appears to be a strong message to India, Nepal’s prime minister-in-waiting KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday made a surprise visit to the country’s border with China in Rasuwagadhi and inspected the only trade and transit point between the two countries.

The motive for the visit remains unknown, but it may be an indication that the incoming government to be headed by the CPN-UML chairman is likely to tilt towards Beijing and seek support for larger connectivity projects including road and railways.

The Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border point would be upgraded to international standards, Oli said during the visit described by Nepali media as “sudden” and surprising to many. “We will bring the Chinese rail through this border point,” he added. “Given the difficult terrain, we will construct cable cars across the border so that cross-border movement can be eased.”

China has already announced plans to develop Rasuwagadhi -Kerung into an international border crossing, calling it a gateway to South Asia.

Oli, who was accompanied by top party officials, said that some dry ports will be constructed around the border point. He also vowed to expand the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung-Kathmandu road into four lanes. It is seen as an alternative to Birgunj, a border point between Nepal and India.

Oli’s trip comes at a time when the Left Alliance has publicly announced that it would opt for a “balanced” foreign policy.