Kerung-Kathmandu railway detailed feasibility study report in 42 months

The visiting Chinese experts team is hopeful to overcome difficulties in construction of Kerung-Kathmandu railway, and submit the detailed feasibility study report in 42 months.

The cross-border railway crosses the Himalayas, where terrain and geological conditions are extremely complex," a Chinese railway expert Feng Dequan has been quoted by China's Xinhua News Agency as saying, "The project has world-class engineering difficulties."

Feng-led six-member Chinese experts team came to Nepal on Tuesday to carry out feasibility study of the cross-border railway.

However, unlikely to the earlier Chinese experts team, the team led by Feng, said that they will closely work with the Nepali side to overcome difficulties to construct trans-Himalayan railway.

The cross-border railway project, which is proposed to be built under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), will connect Tibetan Autonomous Region of China with Kathmandu.

Feng said that his team will make full use of China's advanced technology and rich experience in constructing railways in difficult and complex mountainous and plateau areas, closely cooperate with top scientific research institutions in China and Nepal.

"As the first batch of experts, our arrival in Kathmandu marks new progress in the feasibility study project," Xinhua quoted Feng as saying. 

The feasibility study that will be carried out by the China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group, is estimated to take at least 42 months. 

Likewise, the estimated cost for the feasibility study of the 72-km cross-border railway is also expected to be around Rs 3.4 billion.

China has already linked Kerung with the Lhasa-Shigatse railway line on the Chinese side. Extending the railway line cross border from Shigatse, China is keen on linking it to Kathmandu and Lumbini.

But according to the Department of Railways, the railway line will originate from Kerung and connect Kathmandu via Rasuwagadhi.

The Chinese team is expected to complete the study and submit its report in next 42 months, according to the director general at the Department of Railways Rohit Kumar Bisural.

"As previously agreed, the team will conduct the study at its own expense and Nepal will provide them security and facilitation,” he said, adding that the project is expected to move forward. "The Chinese team held a consultation with us in this regard."

The study of the railway line will be carried out in such a way that the track will bifurcate towards Nepal from the railway track going towards Mansarovar of Tibet from a lake above Kerung, Bisural claimed.

Earlier, the Chinese government had sent a Letter of Undertaking (LoU) - that was approved by Nepal on December 22 - to Nepal on the basis of an agreement reached five years ago.

The Department of Railways forwarded the document to the Finance Ministry for necessary action but it was delayed for a long time due to various reasons, the department complained.

The pre-feasibility study of the railway was conducted in November 2018 and an agreement for carrying out the feasibility study was reached during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal a year later on October 12-13 in 2019.

Likewise, a memorandum of understanding (MoU), for expediting the feasibility study, was also reached during the visit of Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's to Nepal in March 2022. However, Covid-19 pandemic delayed the feasibility study of railway project.

Though, Nepal and China held discussion after the National Railway Administration of China submitted the preliminary study report to the government, the feasibility study report will pave the way to do further action.

The detailed feasibility study will be based on the pre-feasibility study report that had incorporated geographical study from Kathmandu-Kerung via Trishuli, topographical features, among others.

According to the preliminary report, construction of the trans Himalayan railway is not going to be easy due to complex geographical territory. "Most of the railway line will be inside the tunnel," the report reads, adding that some 99 per cent of the railway line will be inside Nepal."

However, for the operation of cross-border railway, Transit and Transport Agreement - one of the important documents - was also signed during the China visit of President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Trans Himalaya Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network and Nepal-China Cross-Border Railway is expected to be great help for Nepal in expansion of connectivity network with the northern neighbour.

Chinese experts team arrives Nepal for detailed study of Kerung-Kathmandu railway

It may just be a coincident as just a day after Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ took oath of the Office of the Prime Minister, a Chinese experts team has arrived in Kathmandu to carry out the detailed feasibility study of the Nepal-China international railway.

Only yesterday, an 8-member cabinet was formed under the leadership of Dahal, chairman of the CPN-Maoist Centre. 

The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu has confirmed that Chinese experts has come to Kathmandu to study and survey the feasibility of the Nepal-China international railway. They arrived in Nepal to conduct a detailed study of the Kathmandu-Kerung railway, the Embassy confirmed, adding that the team will study the geological features, tunneling, earthquake risk.

The Kerung-Kathmandu railway is one of the nine development projects proposed by Nepal with China to be constructed under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but has not moved forward due to Covid-19. However, none of the nine projects have gained momentum till date. The Kerung-Kathmandu Railway and 'Trans Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network' were also included in the joint statement issued after the Second Belt and Road Forum held in Beijing in April 2019, where President Bidya Devi Bhandari took part.

An agreement on the railway project was also reached during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October 2019. He had promised that China will help turn land-locked Nepal into a ‘land-linked country’ by boosting connectivity between the two countries. But the Covid-19 pandemic played a spoil sport. During Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to Nepal last March, Nepal and China again signed an agreement on providing technical assistance for the feasibility study of the railway. He also promised to provide grants for feasibility studies of the cross-border railways.

Nepal and China had also held a discussion about the construction of a cross-border railway, in the second week of last August. In a bilateral meeting between foreign minister Narayan Khadka and his counterpart Wang Yi in Qingdao, Wang reiterated his commitment to grant funding for the railway's feasibility study. He even promised to send a team of Chinese experts. According to the agreement, the Chinese government agency China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) has written a letter to the Finance Ministry too. The CIDCA, under the State Council of China, coordinates development projects and aid with other countries. 

However, there are lots of technical complications in construction of the cross-border railway including cost to bring a train from Shigatse in Tibet to Nepal through high mountains terrain and gorges. Though it is estimated that the construction cost per kilometre is about 200 million yuan ($29.68 million), the difficult geography including Himalayan terrain with high earthquake risks are considered major hurdles. But once constructed, the railway line is expected to shorten transit time by as much as three weeks to transport goods from cities such as Chongqing, Beijing or Shanghai, though, it is expected to cost at least $3 billion, too large a bill for Nepal to foot.

According to the senior divisional engineer and spokesperson at the Railway Department Aman Chitrakar, the feasibility study on the construction of the Kerung-Kathmandu railway will be expedited in collaboration with the visiting Chinese experts team. "The visiting team will carry out the detailed feasibility assessment of the project in coordination with the department."

According to a press note issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. the railway line is an integral part of the BRI between China and Nepal. "China gives priority to Nepal’s aspiration and needs in this regard, and will proactively push ahead with the feasibility study with China aid fund," it reads, adding that the two countries will maintain close contact and coordination in jointly carrying out the work ahead with a view of building a trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network.

Though, Nepal and China repeatedly agreed to carry out the feasibility study for the construction of a cross-border railway, the investment modality and technical aspects are yet to be agreed upon. Fearing to be debt-trapped, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has also clarified that Nepal will construct the cross-border railway, if China constructs it under grant. "Nepal can not take loan to construct the cross border railway line, he has explained.

But once constructed, the railway is expected to bring Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and Nepal's capital Kathmandu much closer. China has already constructed Lhasa-Shigatse railway line on the Chinese side that will link Kerung. It is also expected that the Kerung line will ultimately extend to the Indian border, linking two Asian economic giants via Nepal.

India hands over Jaynagar-Kurtha cross-border rail section

India today handed over the Jaynagar-Kurtha cross-border rail link, built with government of India assistance, to the government of Nepal.

Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra and minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Renu Kumari Yadav witnessed the occasion, according to a press note released by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The executing agency for the project, IRCON International Ltd (on behalf of Government of India) handed over the assets of the section to Nepal Railway Company Ltd (on behalf of Government of Nepal) during the event.

Under the grant assistance of Government of India, the gauge conversion of 34.9-km narrow gauge section into broad gauge, from Jaynagar in India to Kurtha in Nepal, has now been completed, the press note reads, adding that the 34.9-km Jaynagar-Kurtha section is part of 68.72-km Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas rail link being built under Government of India grant assistance of Rs 8.77 billion. "This section was earlier a narrow gauge rail link between Jayanagar and Bijalpura."

There are total 8 stations and halts on the Jaynagar-Kurtha section, which include the historically important city of Janakpur.

Once operationalised, it would be the first broad gauge cross-border rail link between India and Nepal, and would further boost trade and commerce activities as well as people to people linkages between the two countries, the press note adds.

Cross-border rail linkages are an important facet of India-Nepal Development cooperation, which include Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas rail link and Jogbani-Biratnagar (18.6-km) rail link, both being constructed under Government of India grant assistance.

However, the government has not been able to bring Railway Act, and also lacks manpower to operate the railway service. Nepal has brought two modern trains from India last September. Though, it was supposed to run between Jaynagar in Bihar and Kurtha in Dhanusa district from last December, marking the beginning of the first broad-gauge railway service in Nepal, the two modern Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) trains have been lying idle.

The Konkan Railway had delivered two modern DEMU trains, manufactured by Integrated Coach Factory, Chennai with modern amenities and latest AC-AC propulsion technology, to the Nepal Railway.

India to train Nepali technicians to operate cross-border passenger railway service

 India is going to train Nepali railway personnel in Nepal and India.

As Nepal has been preparing to resume passenger railway service on the Kurtha-Jayanagar section of cross-border railway that has been stopped since last seven years, India has agreed to help train the railway personals.

During the fourth India-Nepal Joint Working Group meeting on Railway Cooperation held today via video-conferencing, India has agreed to help in capacity development of Nepali railway personnel and provide training in India, according to a press note issued by the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.

India has also helped upgraded railways into broad gauge from the earlier narrow gauge line. The railway service on narrow gauge was halted after the renovation and upgrading works began.

The Indian side was led by executive director (Traffic Transportation-F) under Ministry of Railways of Indian government Dr Manoj Singh and Nepali side was led by joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Government Er Gopal Prasad Sigdel. 

Other stakeholders, who participated from both sides included senior officials from Indian Railway, Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Konkan Railways and IRCON on the Indian side and director general at the Department of Railway (DoRw), general manager of Nepal Railway Company (NRC), officials from Ministry of Home and Foreign Affairs of Government from Nepali side.

The government has already purchased two diesel-electric multiple unit rail sets in September and has hired some technical human resources from India for their operation. However, the rail sets have not been operational due to lack of human resources. The rail sets have remained unused currently due to lack of adequate preparation on the part of the government.

Both sides discussed the technical preparedness of the completed 34-km long section of the railway line between Kurtha in Nepal and Jaynagar in India for the purpose of running passenger train services including the standard operating procedures that need to be put in place for resumption of passenger train services, the press note reads, adding that the Nepal Railway Company will operate the passenger train along this railway line. “The section, originally a narrow gauge built by British India, was upgraded by Indian government to broad gauge at a cost of over Rs 380 cror Indian Currency (Rs 6.80 billion).”

Nepal has recently procured two DEMU train sets from India for running on this railway link. “Both sides further agreed to expedite the work for completion of the other ongoing cross-border railway project between Jogbani in India and Biratnagar being built with a grant assistance of Rs. 5.88 billion,” according to the press note.

The joint working group also reviewed the cross border rail link projects between Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas and Jogbani-Biratnagar including discussions on the mutual facilitation and coordination required for completion of the work on remaining sections from Kurtha to Bilajpura which is being constructed by India at the cost of Rs 3.2 billion.

Nepal and India, on the occasion, also agreed to see potential of developing Birgunj-Kathmandu railway line. In February, Indian government allocated funding to carry out a detailed project report on the proposed Raxaul-Kathmandu electric rail project.

Nepal to ferry cargo vessels on the Ganges

Nepal and India today finalised the operation modality for allowing Nepal to operate its cargo vessels on three inland waterways of India paving the way for Nepal to ferry its cargo vessels with its flag.
Concluding the two-day Nepal-India Transit Treaty Review meeting in Kathmandu today, India agreed to allow operation of Nepali vessels on the Ganges River that runs parallel of Nepal’s southern border, according to a press note issued by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
According to spokesperson of the ministry Navaraj Dhakal, the two countries signed the standard of procedures during the joint secretary level bilateral meeting. “Once the provision come into effect, Nepal can ferry any suitable size cargo vessels along the prescribed water routes,” he said, adding that Nepal has been seeking to use three inland waterways on Ganges River that include the Kolkata-Kalughat-Raxaul, Kolkata-Sahebgunj-Biratnagar, and Kolkata-Varanasi-Raxaul routes. “India has developed a waterway on the Ganges River, connecting Varanasi and the seaport of Haldiya, Kolkata.”
By utilising these water routes Nepal can expand its transit options to the sea to carry out the third country trade,” said Dhakal, who led the Nepali team, whereas joint secretary of the Department of Commerce at the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry Bhupinder Singh Bhalla led the Indian delegation in the bilateral meeting.
“The Indian authority at the meeting expressed commitment to start groundwork to start trade via these waterway routes as soon as the two governments ink agreement on the new and modified Transit Treaty,” he said, adding that the Indian authority has said Delhi will allow Nepal to use ships of maximum capacity as per feasibility in the finalised waterway routes.
Nepal and India are revising the transit treaty – that was revisited by two countries earlier in 1999 – in almost two decades. “Only small amendments were made to some clauses of the treaty over the time,” the press note from the ministry reads, adding that the treaty will be automatically renewed from January 5, 2020 till 2027.
Likewise, the meeting has also finalised two new routes for bulk cargo transportation. According to the existing provision, bulk cargo is allowed to enter only from Raxaul (Birgunj) but the two sides have agreed to allow bulk cargo movement to Nepal also from Jogbani (Biratnagar) and Nautanwa (Bhairahawa), the press note reads. “The technical teams of two countries also signed agreement to allow Nepal to use railway-based transportation of bulk cargo from Kolkata and Vishakhapatnam seaports of India to Jogbani and Nautanwa near Nepal-India border.”
Along with the provision, the Indian side has also agreed to allow Nepal to carry out transshipment service via the electronic cargo tracking system (ECTS) in transit routes other than Vishakhapatnam-Birgunj. At present, only Nepal-bound cargo released from Vishakhapatnam port are permitted to use ECTS under the transshipment facility. “The provision is in pilot implementation for cargo brought via Kolkata port,” the press note reads.
The multimodal facilities are expected to help reduce transit costs and make Nepali products more competitive in the international market. However, the provisions will come into effect once the revised treaty is signed at the higher level.
Dhakal also informed that the two sides also discussed on Nepal’s proposal to use two Indian seaports – Dhamra in Odisha and Mundra in Gujarat – for third-country trade. “But India will first carry out detailed feasibility before deciding whether to let allow use to use these ports to Nepal.”

Nepal, China agree to conduct feasibility study of Kathmandu-Kerung railway service

Nepal and China agreed to start feasibility study of the Kathmandu-Kerung railway service.
The authorities from the two countries decided to start the feasibility study of the much-hyped cross border transportation project during a meeting in Kathmandu today. “The two countries had decided to expedite the process of constructing the railway line during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Nepal in October,” according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
“A 21-member Chinese team arrived Kathmandu yesterday to implement the decision taken during Xi’s visit,” the press note reads, adding that the authorities of the two countries signed an agreement during today’s meeting to start the feasibility study.
The representatives of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation and visiting officials from China’s National Railway Administration – on the occasion – divided the responsibilities during the meeting.
“The Chinese side will conduct aerial mapping and geographical study, while the Nepali side will prepare the environment impact assessment report and provide security to the Chinese team,” informed the director general of the Railway Department Balaram Mishra. “The Chinese side will also prepare the detailed project report at its own expense,” he said, adding that the Chinese side has, however, maintained that it needs to study the project in detail as it is being constructed in one of the most challenging terrains in the world.
The Chinese side has, though not in clear words, been repeatedly saying that construction of much-hyped Kathmandu-Kerung railway is not a cake walk rather a challenging task, and takes long time.

Nepal and China sign and exchange 20 agreements

Nepal and China signed 18 memorandums of understanding (MoU) and two letters of exchange – to promote bilateral cooperation in multiple fields including physical infrastructure development, railroad connectivity and investment – today on the concluding day of Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day state visit to Nepal.
The signing of 18 MoUs and two Letters of Exchange in regard with having a partnership with government bodies including the Ministries of Home, Foreign Affairs, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Agriculture and Livestock Development, Industry, Commerce and Supply, and the Kathmandu metropolis were witnessed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Xi today morning.
Foreign ministers from Nepal and China as well as finance, home and foreign secretaries and secretaries at related ministries and the Chinese ambassador to Nepal Hou Yaunqi signed and exchanged the MoU and letters of exchange, on the occasion.
Xi arrived in Kathmandu yesterday in a first visit by a sitting Chinese president to Nepal in over two decades.
The two sides – while recalling the MoU signed between the two countries on June 21, 2018 on Cooperation in Railway Project – agreed to conduct the feasibility study as outlined in the MoU signed on October 13, 2019, which will lay an important foundation to launching the construction of the Cross-Border Railway, a joint statement issued on the occasion, reads, adding that both sides also reiterated their commitment to extend cooperation on Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini Railway Project. “The two sides welcomed the reopening and restoration of the freight functions of the Zhangmu-Khasa port, and will optimise the functions of the Jilong-Keyrung port and open the Lizi-Nechung port at the earliest possible time and build necessary infrastructure on the Nepali side of the border.”
Both sides would also keep implementing the Protocol concerning the Utilisation of Highway in Tibet of China by Nepal for Cargo Transport and the Protocol to the Agreement on Transit Transport. On the basis of maintaining the long-term operational condition of the Araniko Highway, both sides agreed to cooperate on upgrading and reconstructing the highway on a priority basis in a step-by-step manner.
The Chinese side conveyed its readiness in initiating the repair of Syaphrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Highway, the statement reads realising the importance of enhanced level of connectivity between the two countries, the two sides agreed to proactively cooperate on the feasibility study for the construction of tunnels along the road from Jilong-Keyrung to Kathmandu. “The Chinese side also noted the request made by the Nepali side for the construction of Kimathanka-Leguwaghat section of the Koshi Highway and agreed to consider this project in future cooperation plan and requested the Nepali side to submit a detailed proposal.”
According to the joint statement, the two sides reiterated their commitment to undertake study on the possibility of cooperation, as reflected in the Joint Statement issued in Beijing on June 21, 2018, for the development of the three North-South corridors in Nepal – Koshi Economic Corridor, Gandaki Economic Corridor and Karnali Economic corridor – in order to create jobs and improve local livelihood, and stimulate economic growth and development. “The Chinese side will also extend assistance for training Nepali technical human resources in the field of railway, road and tunnel engineering as well as inland waterways and shipping.”
Both sides welcomed the consensus reached by the civil aviation authorities of the two countries on expanding the air rights arrangements, under the framework of which the airlines of both countries are encouraged to launch-operate more direct air services. Both sides will coordinate closely to speed up the construction of the Pokhara International Airport so that it would start operation at an early date.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over the successful commercial operation of Nepal-China cross-border optical fiber cable and agreed to further strengthen cooperation on information and communications for mutual benefit.
Both agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields of economy including trade, tourism, investment, capacity of production and improving people’s livelihood so as to promote mutual development, reads the statement. “Under the framework of Nepal-China Joint Commission on Economy and Trade, the two sides will establish a working group on investment cooperation and a working group on trade led by secretary-vice minister-level officials or their designates so as to facilitate bilateral investment and trade.”
The Chinese side welcomed the Nepali side to participate in the National Exhibition of the Second China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November 2019.
Both sides will hold comprehensive discussions with a view to strengthening trade relations between the two countries. The Chinese side will take positive measures to expand Nepal’s export to China. The Chinese side will consider providing technical support for the establishment of a multifunctional laboratory in Nepal and extend necessary cooperation to make Tatopani Frontier Inspection Station at Larcha fully functional. Nepal will facilitate the Chinese banks to open their branches and other financial services in Nepal with a view to facilitating trade and investment between the two countries. Both sides will complete their internal procedures at the earliest time for the operationalisation of the Protocol to the Transit Transport Agreement and try their best to implement it at an early date.
Both sides welcomed the signing of the Protocol on Phytosanitary requirements for the Export of Citrus Fruits from Nepal to China and agreed to conclude MoU on Cooperation on Import and Export of Food Safety at the earliest, it reads, adding that the two sides will continue cooperation on production capacity and investment according to the principles of ‘dominated by enterprises, respecting business principles, adhering to market-orientation and following international common practice’. “On the basis of the MoU on Energy Cooperation between the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Nepal and the National Energy Administration of the People’s Republic of China signed on June 21, 2018, both sides will bring into full play the Joint Implementation Mechanism (JIM) on Nepal-China Cooperation in energy sector, to carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of hydropower, wind power, solar power, biomass energy and other kinds of new energy as well as grid systems, etc.”
Both sides agreed to jointly carry out Nepal-China Electric Power Cooperation Plan and complete it within one year, apart from taking this Plan as an important reference for the next step of bilateral electric power cooperation and promote its implementation.
The Chinese side attached great importance to the aspiration of the Nepali side to establish a multidisciplinary Madan Bhandari University for Science and Technology as a mark of respect to People’s Leader Late Madan Bhandari and will extend support at the earliest date after the Nepali side chooses a suitable site for the university. Both sides will continue their discussion on the basis of the report to be submitted by the site visit working group of the Chinese side.
Likewise, the Chinese side is willing to expedite the project of improving the quality of supplied water in Kathmandu.
The Chinese side noted Nepal’s proposal on Integrated Development, including resettlement of scattered population in the Himalayan Region of Nepal. The Chinese side is willing to share experiences and consider cooperating with the Nepali side on this proposal.
Recognising that Mount Sagarmatha -Zhumulangma is an eternal symbol of the friendship between Nepal and China, the two sides will promote cooperation in different fields, including addressing climate change and protecting the environment. They will jointly announce the height of the Mount Sagarmatha-Zhumulangma and conduct scientific researches.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the signing of the Agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Boundary Management System, which will improve the level of boundary management and cooperation for both sides. They were also satisfied with signing the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and expressed hope for an early conclusion of the Treaty on Extradition. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between the law enforcement agencies on information exchanges, capacity building and training. In the next 3 years, China will offer 100 training opportunities to the Nepali law enforcement officers each year. With a view to promoting cooperation in security sector, the two sides will continue to strengthen cooperation in the exchange of visits of the security personnel, joint exercises and training, disaster prevention and reduction and personnel training.
The two sides agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, traditional medicine, media, think tanks and youth at different levels. The Chinese side will offer the Nepali side 100 Confucius Institute Scholarships.
The Chinese side supports the Nepali side to hold the activity of Visit Nepal Year 2020, welcomes the Nepali side to participate in the travel marts held in China and is willing to facilitate Nepal’s promotion on tourism in China. The Chinese side will hold the 9th China Festival and the 4th Kathmandu Cultural Forum in Nepal, and continue to encourage the Chinese Cultural Centre and the Confucius Institute to promote Nepal-China cultural exchanges and cooperation.
The two sides welcomed that Kathmandu of Nepal and Nanjing of China and Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City of Nepal and Xi’an city of China had developed friendship-city relations. The Chinese side consented to the establishment of Nepal’s Consulate General in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China.
Both sides agreed to revitalise the existing mechanisms between the two countries to further strengthen relations and advance mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral fora and to safeguard common interests of developing countries. Both sides exchanged fruitful views on promoting collaboration and strengthening cooperation in regional issues and agreed to support each other on matters of mutual interest. The two sides expressed firm commitment to the multilateral trading regime and work for a more open, inclusive and balanced economic globalization with shared benefits.
Both sides held that President Xi Jinping’s State visit, on the historic occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, to Nepal marked the beginning of a new era in Nepal-China relations and served as an important milestone in the history of friendly cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese side would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the Government of Nepal and its people for their warm and friendly reception.
Nepal and China decided to elevate Nepal-China Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, according to the joint statement.
The two sides also expressed satisfaction over the fact that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1955, Nepal-China relationship has withstood changes of the international situation and has been growing in a consistent, steady and healthy manner, which sets a model of peaceful coexistence between the two countries of different size, reads the joint statement. “Both sides recognised that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is characterized by equality, harmonious coexistence, ever-lasting friendship and comprehensive cooperation.”
Both sides decided to, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Charter of the United Nations and principles of good neighborliness; elevate Nepal-China Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity.
Likewise, The two sides agreed to respect each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and respect and accommodate each other’s concerns and core interests, it reads. “The two sides will adhere to good neighboring policy and deepen overall cooperation in a win-win manner, so as to achieve mutual benefit and pursue stability and development together.”
Nepal and China take the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as an important opportunity to deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation in all fields in a comprehensive manner, jointly pursue common prosperity and dedicate themselves to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region, it reads, adding that the bilateral relationship between Nepal and China has entered a new phase.
The Nepali side, on the occasion, reiterated its firm commitment to One China policy, acknowledging that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory and Tibet affairs are China’s internal affairs, and the determination on not allowing any anti-China activities on its soil. The Chinese side also reiterated its firm support to Nepal in upholding the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its firm support and respect to Nepal’s social system and development path independently chosen in the light of Nepal’s national conditions.
The two sides, on the occasion, agreed to intensify implementation of the MoU on Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to enhance connectivity, encompassing such vital components as ports, roads, railways, aviation and communications within the overarching framework of trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network with a view to significantly contributing to Nepal’s development agenda that includes graduating from LDC at an early date, becoming middle income country by 2030 and realising the SDGs by the same date.
President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping – at the invitation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari – paid two-day state visit to Nepal on October 12-13 October. President Xi and the Chinese delegation departed for Beijing on today afternoon.
During the visit, President Xi met with President Bhandari, held talks with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and attended the welcoming banquet by President Bhandari. While addressing a banquet hosted by Bhandari in honour of Xi yesterday evening, the Chinese President announced Rs 56 billion economic assistance for Nepal for the next two years from 2020 to 2022.
Before the banquet, Xi held talks with Nepali Congress (NC) President and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. During the meeting, Deuba appreciated Chinese investments that go towards Nepal’s development efforts.

India submits pre-feasibility report of Kathmandu-Raxual railway project

India has submitted the pre-feasibility report of Kathmandu-Raxaul railway project to Nepal.
“The Indian government had submitted the report last week through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aiming at conducting a further feasibility and detailed project report,” according to the foreign ministry.
“We have received the report and will soon forward it to Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport too,” a source at the ministry said, adding that a joint engineering team of Department of Railways (DoRW) and the consultant team of Indian Railways had started conducting the pre-feasibility study of the project on June 8 last year. “The team comprising of members of the technical teams of both the countries has recommended the project to be feasible.”
The joint team had proposed Himal Cement Factory in Chobhar of Kathmandu as a railway station.
Though the government was planning to establish a company to construct the railway, but the process is put on hold because the Indian government has promised to build the railway through its own resources. The Indian Prime Minister had – during his visit to Nepal last May – assured that the entire cost to construct the railway project from Kathmandu to Raxaul would be covered by the Indian government, including establishment of an office, pre-feasibility study, detailed feasibility study (DFS), detailed project report (DPR) and as well as construction.
The works of the feasibility and detailed feasibility study will start by next fiscal year, according to the department that has estimated the railway project to cover a total length of 113-km, of which around 20 per cent will comprise of tunnels and bridges. “The proposed route of the Kathmandu-Raxaul railway will start from Kathmandu and will pass along the Bagmati River all the way to Nijgadh extending through Birgunj to Raxaul.”
Though, a railway track connecting Birgunj to Raxaul already exists, it is yet to be used to transport passengers.

Cabinet gears up cross border ship, railway operation programme

The government has established a Ship Office with 16 vacancies.
Announcing last week's cabinet decisions today, minister of Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota said that the government has decided to establish a Ship Office with 16 vacancies to operate cross-border ship between Nepal and India in Narayan and Sapta Koshi River.
"The plan to operate ship in Sapta Koshi river has moved beyond paper with this decision," he said, adding that the cross-border ship operations is going to become a reality. "The operation of the sailing vessel in the water sources of the country is expected cross-border trading between Nepal and India that will help lessen trading cost and time."
However, for the ship operations between the two countries, Nepal and India needs to enter into an agreement.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has – three years ago, when he was premier for the first time and also after becoming premier this time almost a year ago – been repeatedly claiming that Nepal will operate its own vessel between Nepal and India from January 1. But the date has been passed without any progress in operation of vessels in waterways between Nepal and India. People have been mocking premier's fixing date for operating passenger ship services from Nepal to India.
Though, it is not the first time, Nepal has established a Ship Office, the two-third majority government led by KP Sharma Oli has made it a prestige issue. Nepal also had a Ship Office during Late King Mahendra, as he also had dreamt of operating a vessel in the sea with Nepal's flag. The incumbent government is more obsessed by King Mahendra than communist ideology.
According to Baskota, the cabinet has also authorised the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation to procure railway carriages for cross border railway service. The green light on train procurement has come from the government amid plans to resume passenger railway service from Janakpur to Jayanagar soon. This decision to obtain the railway carriages through G2G level from the government of India will support the 35-km railways service from Kurtha of Janakpur to Jaynagar of India.
Likewise, the cabinet has also decided to arrange the payment of the minister’s salary and other incentives through the respective ministries. Earlier, the ministers used to take the salary and incentives from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and they have been blamed for pocketing the salary of the personal assistants and sub ordinates.
The cabinet has also approved the establishment and operation work procedure of the Prime Minister National Talent Prize Fund 2075. The fund will be some $200,000. The fund will be utilised to award the persons excelling in innovation, scientific research, and those contributing significantly to the national life.