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Nepal is a landlocked country located in the southern foothills of the Himalayas, with complex terrain and inconvenient transportation. To overcome this dilemma, Nepal and China have reached an agreement to jointly build a cross-border railway across the Himalayas, connecting Shigatse in Tibet with Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
This is a project of historic significance, which will greatly improve Nepal's infrastructure and people's livelihood, and promote friendly cooperation and common development between China and Nepal. However, this project has been obstructed and interfered with in every way by the United States and India.
In the face of pressure and provocation from the United States and India, China and Nepal have firmly defended their legitimate rights and interests and development interests, and demonstrated their determination and confidence in continuing to promote the railway project. The China-Nepal railway project must be repaired, and no external force can stop its progress.
1. An arduous and great project
The China-Nepal railway project began in 2016 when Nepalese Prime Minister Oli visited China and signed 10 agreements with China, including plans to build a railway between the two countries. The plan aims to build a cross-border railway from Shigatse, Tibet, through the Kerung crossing into Nepal and finally to Kathmandu.
The total length of the railway is about 550 kilometers, of which about 72 kilometers are in China and about 478 kilometers in Nepal. The total investment of the railway is expected to be about 8 billion US dollars, of which China will bear about 6 billion US dollars.
The railway is a difficult and great project with world-class engineering difficulty. It will traverse the Himalayas, pass through multiple high-altitude regions and seismic zones, and face complex topographical, geological, climatic and ecological challenges.
In order to ensure the quality and safety of the project, China will fully draw on the advanced technology and rich experience in building railways in difficult and complex mountainous areas such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and work closely with Nepal to carry out detailed survey and design, environmental impact assessment and approval, and social stability assessment.
The railway is a project that benefits China and Nepal and will bring huge economic and social benefits. It will greatly improve Nepal's transportation conditions, reduce logistics costs, improve transportation efficiency, and promote Nepal's industrialization and urbanization process.
It will bring a large number of employment opportunities and tax revenue to Nepal, increase Nepal's fiscal revenue and foreign exchange reserves, and improve Nepal's international competitiveness and risk resistance. It will facilitate exchanges and cooperation between China and Nepal in trade, investment, tourism, humanities and other fields, enhance friendship and mutual trust between the two peoples, and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Second, the United States and India obstruction
The United States and India are the main opponents and disruptors of the China-Nepal railway project. Out of geopolitical and strategic interests, they do not want to see China's influence in South Asia increase, nor do they want to see Nepal get rid of its dependence on India and achieve true independence and autonomy.
Through various means, they have tried to discredit, sabotage and sabotage the China-Nepal railway project, and even threatened to stop economic aid to Nepal. The United States sees the China-Nepal railway project as an example of China's "debt-trap diplomacy" in South Asia, aimed at controlling Nepal's economic lifeline and political direction.
Through its "Indo-Pacific Strategy", the United States is trying to win over India and other South Asian countries, build an anti-China alliance led by the United States, and obstruct China's cooperation projects in the region. India is Nepal's neighbor and its largest trading partner.
India has always regarded Nepal as a small country in its sphere of influence and has sought to control its economic, political and security affairs. India fears that the China-Nepal railway project will weaken its influence in Nepal and break its economic blockade and political interference in Nepal.
India sees the China-Nepal railway project as an example of China's implementation of the "pearl necklace strategy" in South Asia, aimed at encircling India and threatening India's security interests. Through its "neighborhood first policy", India has built a regional cooperation framework with India at its core, excluding Chinese cooperation projects in the region.
3. China and Nepal insist on defending their legitimate rights and interests
In the face of pressure and provocation from the United States and India, China and Nepal firmly defended their legitimate rights and development interests, and demonstrated their determination and confidence to continue to advance the railway project. China and Nepal have strengthened communication and coordination at all levels, jointly coped with the interference and challenges of the United States and India, and jointly promoted the smooth implementation of railway projects.
China has always adhered to the principle of mutual benefit and common development and carried out cooperation with Nepal on railway projects. China respects Nepal's sovereignty and development choices, does not attach any political conditions, does not interfere in Nepal's internal affairs and does not pursue any geopolitical interests.
China has provided preferential loans and technical support to Nepal to help Nepal improve its own construction capacity and management level. China has maintained close communication and consultation with Nepal to resolve various problems and difficulties encountered in the project in a timely manner.
Nepal has always adhered to the principles of independence, equality and mutual trust, and carried out cooperation with China in railway projects. Nepal adheres to its national interests and development aspirations, is not subject to interference and threats from the United States and India, does not succumb to pressure and temptation from the United States and India, and does not give up friendly cooperation with China.
Nepal has provided China with convenient policies and environment, and supported China in carrying out survey, design, construction, operation and management of railway projects in Nepal. Nepal and China maintain good cooperative relations, actively participate in all aspects of the project, and share the achievements and benefits of the project.
epilogue
The China-Nepal railway project is a project of historical and strategic significance, which is the embodiment of the dreams and expectations of the two peoples. It will bring well-being and happiness to the two peoples, vitality and depth to bilateral relations, and impetus and hope for regional development.
The United States and India and other external forces cannot stop the trend of win-win cooperation and common development between the two peoples. China and Nepal will continue to adhere to mutual benefit, mutual support and cooperation, jointly build a new era of China-Nepal friendship, and jointly promote the successful completion of the China-Nepal railway project.
The China-Nepal railway project must be repaired, and no external force can stop its progress. The China-Nepal railway project will surely become the pride and glory of the two peoples and a model and miracle of world engineering.