Kathmandu: Senior diplomats and foreign affairs scholars have called for the advancement of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects and emphasized the need for negotiations to address the significant financing gap for infrastructure development in Nepal. They highlighted the increasing importance of Nepal-China relations in the current global context and stressed the need to capitalize on China's development initiatives.

At a program titled "China-Nepal Comprehensive Cooperation: Potential and Prospects," organized by the Charhar Institute of China in Kathmandu, former Foreign Affairs Minister and Nepal’s Ambassador to China, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, stated that democracy requires substance and mere form is insufficient for effective governance. He emphasized that Nepal, as a friendly neighbor, should benefit from China’s experience by focusing on the people’s livelihood and a democratic process centered on the populace.

Officiating Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai underscored the importance of connectivity for socio-economic development, advocating for the construction of cross-border connectivity through railways, roads, transmission lines, infoways, and airways. He highlighted the potential of the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network to usher in a new era of advanced connectivity between Nepal and China.

Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of China in Nepal, Wang Xin, noted that Nepal and China could collaborate to accelerate the construction of the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network and explore cooperation in agriculture, industry, economy and trade, digital technology, and other sectors to promote Nepal’s development and prosperity initiatives. He affirmed China's commitment to improving the multidimensional network and advancing both major projects and impactful small-scale projects for public welfare.

Former foreign secretary Dr. Madan Bhattarai reiterated Nepal’s aspiration for China's support in its development endeavors. Another foreign secretary, Madhu Raman Acharya, emphasized the urgency of implementing BRI projects in Nepal, recognizing China as a major global power and stressing the importance of Nepal-China relations.

In his presentation on "Prospects and Issues on Economic Cooperation between Nepal and China," former Chief Secretary and Nepal's Ambassador to China, Leela Mani Paudyal, highlighted the BRI as a platform for win-win cooperation, noting the significant benefits Nepal could gain from Chinese investment, tourism, and bilateral trade. Paudyal stressed the importance of foreign investment for capital formation and the transfer of technology, skills, and managerial know-how for Nepal’s development. He called for enhanced high-level political dialogues to reinforce mutual trust and understanding and suggested improvements in border facilities and infrastructures, identifying key products for significant business opportunities.

Prof. Dr. Cheng Xizhong of the Charhar Institute advocated for strengthening cultural exchanges and promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. He emphasized the need for educational cooperation to develop future leaders and professionals and called for promoting tourism cooperation. Prof. Cheng underscored the significance of the China-Nepal railway, describing it as not only a physical connection but also a link between the hearts of the two peoples. He stated that the railway would greatly enhance Nepal’s tourism economy, strengthen economic and trade relations, and enable Nepal to benefit from China’s rapid economic development.

Other scholars, including Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute Prof. Long Xingchun, Dr. Wang Xiaoying, Associate Prof. Guo Bingyun, and Chen Yucheng, shared their views on deepening Nepal-China relations across multiple fronts.