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China vows support in development of Buddha's birthplace in Nepal
Ahead of President's visit to China, Nepal pitches for road links : World, News - India TodayKATHMANDU - A Chinese official has expressed readiness to provide China's support in the development of Gautam Buddha's birthplace, Lumbini, during a meeting with Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav.
Wang Zuoan, director of China's State Administration for Religious Affairs, made the remarks when he called on the Nepalese president on Sunday.
On the occasion, Yadav thanked the Chinese government and the people for their continued support in Nepal's socio-economic development, an official at the President's Office told Xinhua.
In a separate meeting between Wang and Nepal's Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Deepak Chandra Amatya on Sunday, the two discussed Nepal-China cooperation in the culture sector, an official at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, told Xinhua.
Wang, who arrived in the Nepalese capital on Sunday for a three-day visit, toured Lumbini on the same day and he is expected to offer donations to the local people on Monday.
China has recently expanded its already vast highway and rail network in Tibet close to the Nepal border. While Beijing has long been pushing Kathmandu for a rail link to extend its Tibet railway network into Nepal, discussions have been slow-moving in part because of India's sensitivities.
With China emerging as the biggest source of foreign investment in Nepal, the country has recently signalled its readiness for Chinese investment in boosting road connectivity. China has already begun upgrading its "friendship highway", or national highway 318, that runs from Lhasa all the way to Zhangmu, which borders Nepal. On the Nepali side, the highway that runs from the border port of Kodari has required upgrading.
China has announced it will provide technology and assistance to build a modern dry port at Tatopani near Kodari, having opened another port of entry on its side of the border in Gyirong in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Gyirong, officials say, will be built into a cross-border free trade zone dedicated to Nepal - a project likely to be discussed when Yadav meets Xi next week.
Earlier this month, China and Nepal began discussing building a second inland container depot at Rasuwagadhi, Nepali media reported, with China offering to bear the entire cost and construct six such land ports along the Tibet border to boost trade. The Rasuwagadhi port, Nepali reports said, would offer a much needed alternative land-link with the highway from Kodari cut off last year because of landslides.
