Source: People's Daily
China and Nepal continue to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in the fields of connectivity, economy, trade and investment, and energy development
"Working together for a better future" (1st site)
Nepal is located in the southern foothills of the Himalayas, bordering the Tibetan Plateau. In recent years, China and Nepal have continued to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in the fields of connectivity, economic and trade investment, and energy development, and have achieved fruitful results. Our reporter recently went to Nepal to cover the real convenience and benefits brought to the local people by China-aided roads, schools, stadiums and other livelihood projects. People from all walks of life in Nepal told reporters that the prospects for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between Nepal and China are promising, and they look forward to constantly writing a new chapter of friendship across the Himalayas.
"Revitalize this lifeline connecting the two countries"
The high peaks of the Himalayas cut through the clouds and are particularly spectacular in the sunlight. From Kathmandu, surrounded by mountains, head north and exit the city onto the Anico Highway. The road is full of traffic and a busy scene.
As a major economic and trade corridor between China and Nepal, the Anigo Highway is a local traffic artery to connect with the outside world, and it is also a road of development and happiness in the eyes of locals. On the Nepalese section of the Anico Highway, there are many towns such as Kodari, Balabis, Kadi State, and Bakdab. In the city of Barabis, Raim, the owner of a shop that deals in daily necessities, told reporters: "Many of the goods in my store, such as apples, milk candy, garlic, etc., come from China. ”
The reporter saw buses, trucks, cars and motorcycles coming and going on the highway. On the bus driven by driver Niram, many passengers gave a thumbs up when they talked about the road in front of them. Niram told reporters: "The Anigko Highway is an important passage between the capital Kathmandu and the northern towns, and passenger and freight traffic is very busy. Thank you to China for helping to build this road. ”
The Tatopani border checkpoint along the Anigo Highway and 6 kilometers away from China's Zhangmu Port (pictured, photo by Lv Xiao) is backed by mountains and faces the river, undertaking the important task of border inspection of goods between China and Nepal. In 2015, Nepal was hit by a major earthquake that left it in ruins. Later, China helped build the Tatopani border checkpoint. Damba, a truck driver who commits between China's Zhangmu port and Kathmandu every day, now takes more than an hour less than an hour per trip. He said that after the reconstruction and upgrading of the Tatopani border checkpoint built with Chinese assistance, the conditions for customs clearance are better. "In the past, it was time-consuming and laborious to unload and reload the truck, but now the vehicle carrying the container can enter the customs for inspection of the whole vehicle, which is convenient and fast."
At the Tatopani border checkpoint, vehicles laden with goods enter and exit. In the spacious and bright inspection hall, customs staff are checking the customs declaration procedures. Guan Da Yananda pointed to the big screen and said: "China has helped build modern border checkpoints, and we know exactly which cars go where, when they enter customs, and what goods they have." Now dozens of large trucks transport Chinese goods into Nepal every day, and since 2019, Zhangmu Port resumed one-way exports to Nepal, and as of April 28, 2023, the port's export cargo weighed about 167,900 tons, worth about 2.961 billion yuan. Nepal will continue to work to improve the infrastructure conditions at the port and revitalize this lifeline connecting the two countries. ”
"Thanks to China for building modern sports facilities"
At 6 a.m., before the morning light was fully lit, the Nepal National Stadium was already lively. The shooting center is open from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and nearly 100 young shooting enthusiasts come here every day to train.
"Can I take a picture with you?" A girl training at the stadium clasps her hands together and greets Chinese engineers at work. The girl, Sjouda, is a sophomore at a secondary school in Kathmandu and a shooting enthusiast. "When I was a kid, my father used to take me here to swim, shoot and watch games, but the earthquake destroyed the facilities and I haven't been to the stadium since," she said. It wasn't until 2019 that I repaired the sports facilities with the help of China that I was able to train here again. ”
The Nepal National Stadium includes shooting ranges, swimming pools, boxing stadiums, athletics fields and other venues, and is an emergency post-disaster restoration project undertaken by China Railway 14th Bureau. The project not only repaired the damaged facilities, but also upgraded the information transmission equipment. The Nepal National Stadium became a training ground for the national team and hosted international and domestic events such as the South Asian Games.
Shabin, Senior Engineer of the Sports Department of Nepal's Ministry of Youth and Sports, said: "I am grateful to China for helping to build modern sports facilities. In December 2019, Nepal achieved an all-time best result of 51 gold medals at the 13th South Asian Games hosted by Nepal. Today, thousands of people participate in physical exercise, recreation and recreation here every day. Chinese engineers are affectionately referred to as 'messengers of friendship'. ”
"Promote more cooperation projects and projects"
The reporter visited the local area and found that the renovated traditional medicine research and training center has laid the foundation for the promotion of traditional medicine culture, the renovated Nepal national television station has presented more wonderful programs for the local people, the renovated Banipa Comprehensive Technical School has trained a large number of local auto repair and other technical talents, and the wells built with Chinese assistance have ensured the normal water supply of the Nepal Nature Conservation Research Center... A large number of people's livelihood projects aided by China have blossomed everywhere and have been widely praised.
Over the years, another construction project built by China, the Nepal National Armed Police Academy, has also greatly helped train local armed police and disaster relief talents, and more than 4,000 students have graduated from this school. Konau, who has studied here for two years, said: "I often hear from teachers that the original college had two small bungalows, no formal training venue, and a single training program. Looking at the magnificent school in front of you, as well as training grounds such as shooting training grounds, climbing buildings, and indoor training grounds, it feels incredible. ”
Qadri, director of the Nepal National Armed Police Academy, said: "Since the school was opened, teachers and students from many universities in Nepal have visited here, and United Nations peacekeepers from more than 30 countries have come here for exchange and study. I always tell them that the quality of the school buildings built with the help of Chinese friends is very good. ”
Razu Svister, chief engineer of the Sports Department of Nepal's Ministry of Youth and Sports, said Nepal looks forward to working with China to build a trans-Himalayan three-dimensional connectivity network, "promote more cooperation projects and projects, enhance economic and trade exchanges, and promote people-to-people bonds." Let's work together to build a better future."
(Zhang Kee-li also contributed to this article)