Kathmandu: Nepali Congress leader and former Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala has described the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a major opportunity for Nepal's economic development and infrastructure growth. Speaking at an event in Kathmandu, Koirala emphasized that BRI can play a transformative role in helping Nepal access international trade routes and achieve long-term prosperity.

The event was organized by the Friends of the Silk Road Club Nepal to launch the Nepali translation of the "BRI Blueprint", a publication originally released by the Chinese government to showcase a decade of achievements under the BRI framework. The book outlines the principles, objectives, and future vision of BRI, along with its impact on global development, trade, governance, and civilizational harmony.

Koirala stated that, as a landlocked country, Nepal needs greater connectivity to global markets and that BRI can serve as a vital channel for this. However, she also acknowledged that the initiative has not yet delivered its full benefits in Nepal, attributing this to misunderstandings surrounding its implementation. “The main goal of the BRI project is development and mutual benefit,” she said. “It offers hope for a sustainable and shared future.”

Senior Editor at RSS, Mahendra Subedi, also addressed the gathering, highlighting how BRI has opened new pathways for modernization and international cooperation. He stressed that in the past decade, BRI has enabled robust development in participating countries, helped overcome global development challenges, and contributed to global governance reforms.

The event and the release of the translated blueprint aim to promote greater understanding of BRI in Nepal and encourage more informed dialogue around its potential to drive national development.