Cross-border rail project with China in final stage: Nepal

Kathmandu, April 29: Nepal and China are set to sign the much-talked about deal for a cross-border rail network, deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara has said.

Mahara said the agreement for the proposed rail network between the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, which stands at an elevation of nearly 1,400 metres above sea level, and Kerung, a bordering town of China, would be signed soon. He was speaking at a programme organised by the China Study Centre and the Nepal Institute for Strategic Centre on the ambitious ‘One Belt, One Road Initiative and South Asia’ here on Friday.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Prachanda had assured China that Nepal would sign an agreement to extend the rail network from Kerung to Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lumbini, said Mahara, who is also the minister for finance.

“As per the PM’s proposal, we are making preparations to sign the agreement with China soon,” he was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

While it is uncertain yet whether Nepal would be part of the OBOR, Mahara, who is set to lead Nepal at an OBOR conference in Beijing next month, said Nepal wanted to take advantage of the plan.

“We have taken it as an opportunity to expand economic cooperation,” he said, “Nepal is at final stage to sign the initiative to which the government has accorded the highest priority.

“We are sure a country like Nepal will be helped by this initiative which is expected to bring together many countries, including in South Asia.”