China pledged railway network: PM

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has said that enhanced connectivity between China and South Asia holds the key to the overall development of the region. China pledged railway network: PM

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Published at : June 7, 2014

Kathmandu

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has said that enhanced connectivity between China and South Asia holds the key to the overall development of the region. The issue of connectivity dominated the second China-South Asia Exposition which kicked off in Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunan Province, on Friday.

On his return from a whirl-wind trip to expo as the ‘Guest of Honour’, PM Koirala said all the regional leaders who attended the event were unanimous on one thing: improved rail, road and air connectivity with China and among other countries in the region will pave the way for several other splendid opportunities for cooperation. Nepal is the ‘Country of Honour’ at the expo this year.

“During the event’s opening ceremony and also throughout my meetings with Chinese and other regional leaders, one thing was stressed again and again that our future lies in improved connectivity within the region and beyond,” Koirala told reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport. “After establishing peace and stability, we all should focus on enhancing the regional connectivity.”

The central theme of this year’s expo is expanding trade and commerce in the region; boosting investment-centred cooperation; accelerating inter-connectivity and jointly establishing an economic corridor between China and South Asia first and foremost.

Highlighting China’s emergence as an engine of the global economy, Koirala expressed hope that Nepal would greatly benefit from an unprecedented economic transformation taking place in the neighbourhood.

Outlining Nepal’s development vision to become a modern, progressive and just society, and the government’s plan to graduate from LDC to developing country status by 2022, Koirala stressed the need for massive investment in human resources and infrastructure.

China, which has been assisting Nepal to develop north-south economic corridors, is also keen to extend its rail network to the Nepal border. The two countries have also agreed to increase the frequency of flights to 56 a week from the current 14.

PM Koirala also thanked China for offering support to Nepal in hosting the 18th Saarc Summit scheduled for November.

PM Koirala further said that he met Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Qin Guangrong on the sidelines of the event and also interacted with other regional leaders.