Nepal keen to enhance connectivity with China under B&R Initiative: FM

Nepali Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Saturday that Nepal is keen to work with China to enhance cross-border connectivity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Foreign Minister of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali in Beijing on April 18, 2018. [Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry]

The foreign minister, who returned home on Saturday after a five-day visit to China, told media here that the Nepali government has sought assistance from China to develop connectivity projects.

"We have sought assistance from China to develop connectivity projects including railway lines under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative during the visit," he said.

The minister said that both sides agreed to identify and implement projects in construction of highways and railways.

"We want to deepen cooperation with China in the field of trade, commerce, tourism, aviation, communication and people-to-people contacts, among others," he said.

Introduced by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aiming at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting countries along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.