Kathmandu: The one-day conference on “Friends of Silk Road Trans-Himalaya Connectivity Cooperation for Shared Prosperity” was organized by Trans- Himalaya Development Centre in the Kathmandu on 30th December, 2019.
Inaugurating the conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Ishwar Pokharel said that trans-Himalayan connectivity was a key to Nepal’s development and prosperity.
Saying that discussions were needed to ensure uniformity in understanding before initiating any action, DPM Pokharel went on to say that connectivity along the trans-Himalayan region is a crux for the development of this world’s one of the most beautiful geography.
Pokharel also said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was very relevant for our development and argued that we should not get confused from the expressed and unexpressed ideas.
Referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks on helping Nepal transfer from a landlocked to a land-linked country by opening more and more points, Pokharel argued that the trans-Himalayan connectivity would bring benefit to the whole trans-Himalayan region, not only Nepal.
Stressing the need for deeper cooperation for the mutual development, BRI has promoted win-win cooperation and mutual benefits for the participating region, he added.
“The beauty of the trans-Himalayan region is unparalleled but at the same time the region is more vulnerable and we should seriously think about the possible threats of natural disasters and calamities. And, we have to move forward this by keeping this in the centre,” Pokharel said.
Similarly, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nepal Hou Yanqi said that better roads lead to better life adding that unprecedented interdependence among countries further highlights the importance of connectivity.
“Strengthening the connectivity in Himalayan region, the most complicated topography in the world, is of great difficulty. But we never stop the step to pursuing it,” she said.
“We made efforts with the hope to deepen the bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, cultural and people to people exchanges, and with the view to contribute to Nepal’s development agenda that includes graduating from LDC at an early date,” the Ambassador added.
Likewise, former Foreign Affairs Minister and Nepali Congress leader Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said that we should be very serious to take maximum benefits out of trans-Himalayan connectivity adding that project identification was very crucial based on the expert opinions and the returns of investment.
He was of the opinion that China could be the good source country for foreign investment adding that Chinese FDI in Nepal will help us generate employment at home and reduce the trade deficit.
Dr Mahat said connectivity was very important for us. Road connectivity and railway connectivity are important for us. He also shared that trading with China by exporting our goods in zero tariffs would help flourish our trade. Likewise, tourism was our priority.
Also speaking at the programme, former Ambassador of Nepal to the US Dr Shankar Sharma suggested that more researches were required in a number of key areas. “Researches are needed on impacts of railway project to the trade of Nepal and overall economy of Nepal, employment generation, improvement in people’s day to day livelihood and contribution of connectivity in the areas of GDP,” Dr Sharma said.
Likewise, Chairman of Trans-Himalaya Development Centre Dr Kalyan Raj Sharma said that a trans-Himalayan connectivity network agreed by the top leaders of both Nepal and China would be the best option to end infrastructure gaps and development bottlenecks along the region. “It will help Nepal diversify its trade and business as far as the central Asian countries. The trans-Himalayan connectivity network taking shape will serve not just China and Nepal, but also the region as a whole,” Dr Sharma said.
