China proposes EC, railway line to link Tibet with India, Nepal

[Hindustani78]

China proposes EC, railway line to link Tibet with India, Nepal
Beijing, Jul 2 , 2015, PTI:

China has proposed a trilateral economic corridor with India through Nepal and a railway line linking the three nations via Tibet besides undertaking of joint reconstruction of projects to rebuild quake-hit Nepal.

The India-Nepal-China Corridor is a major initiative to promote the connectivity in the region especially between China and India and help quake-hit Nepal, said Huang Xilian, Deputy Director General of the Asian Affairs departs of the Chinese foreign ministry.

The proposal mooted by China during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here in May was received positively by him, Huang told Indian correspondents here yesterday.

The proposal was discussed in the recent meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of an international conference on Nepal reconstruction in Kathmandu last month.

"The two Ministers had further discussion on this topic and reached consensus. We need to work together for the process of reconstruction of Nepal and we need to setup a joint study group to explore the feasibility of the Corridor," said Huang, the Foreign Ministry's point man for India.

"We are ready to set up study group for economic corridor. If we can reach an agreement on feasibility we are ready to push forward it as it will bring benefit to the three countries," he said.

He also spoke about China's interest to build railway line through the Himalayan passes of Tibet connecting Nepal and India. "The construction of this railway will help to materialise a dream. We need to have a feasibility study on it. We need to have consultations among the three. If India shows some interest we can respond positively," he said.

While the recent earthquake in Nepal reminded about the vulnerabilities of the region a joint study can work out how to deal with it, Huang said.

China also dropped the much publicised plan to construct a high speed rail link through Mt. Everest, which Huang dismissed as imagination of a retired railway official.

Asked about the media reports about plans to build 540-km long high speed railway cutting through Mt Everest, Huang said an official who quoted in this regard is full of imagination.
"This guy is full of imagination. This is only a report and there is no government proposal on this," he said

In April this year, Wang Mengshu, a rail expert at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, spoke about this proposal to state-run China Daily.

Huang said China is in discussions with India about the projects for reconstruction of Nepal to rebuild it after the devastating quake which flattened many parts of the country.

He said Chinese Foreign Minister during his meeting with Swaraj appreciated India's USD one billion assistance to Nepal. China has also announced USD 483 million assistance. Besides USD 10 million cash, China will also provide either interest free loans or preferential loans.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/585844/china-launches-cargo-service-linking.html
Beijing, Dec 10, 2016, (PTI)
China has launched a new cargo service linking Tibet and Nepal as dozens of trucks carrying goods worth USD 2.8 million left the Tibetan border port of Gyirong en route to Kathmandu.

The new rail and road cargo service launched yesterday, linking Guangdong, Tibet and Nepal, aims to boost trade with the South Asian neighbour as China pushes forward its Belt and Road (Silk Road) initiative, state-run 'Xinhua' news agency reported today.

A train carrying products, including shoes, clothes, hats, furniture, appliances, electronics and building materials, covered the 5,200-kilometer distance between Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, and Xigaze in Tibet.

The trucks are responsible for the remaining 870 kilometer of the journey, carrying goods to Gyirong and then to the final stop in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital.

This is the first such consignment being sent to Nepal after new Prachanda government took over from his pro-China predecessor K P Sharma Oli, who had signed the transit trade deal with Beijing in March this year in a bid to reduce Nepal's dependence on India despite it being expensive due to the mountainous terrain.

China also agreed his request to build a strategic railway link between the two countries from Gyirong, the last Tibetan county which shares border with Nepal.

China plans to extend the railway later to India and other South Asian countries to promote trade. The process of formation of road and rail links however reportedly slowed down after Prachanda's take over resulting in the delay of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Nepal.

However, Xi and Prachanda met on the sidelines of BRICS summit at Goa in October this year. "The trip between Guangzhou and Gyirong takes about five to six days, much shorter than the 20 days for sea transport," said Yao Yanfeng, general manager of the freight carrier Tibet Tianzhi Import and Export Co. Ltd.

"The time could be cut further to 3.7 days in the future,' the Xinhua report quoted him as saying. Yao said his company is providing relatively quick delivery service and, despite higher costs, it can meet demand for time-sensitive clients.

"In the slower winter season, the train and trucks will make a round trip every one or two weeks. In the busy season next year, there will be two to three per week and, eventually, we're aiming for four to five trips per week," Yao said.

In May, China opened a rail and road cargo service between Lanzhou in northwest China and Kathmandu. The new service starting from Guangzhou serves as an important trade passage between China and Nepal.

Guangdong and neighbouring regions, known as China's manufacturing hubs, are a major source of imports for South Asia, including Nepal. The trade passage, in line with market demand in the medium and long term, could help boost economic cooperation between Guangdong, Tibet and South Asia, officials said.

Guangzhou port was also used recently to launch China-Pakistan Freight service connecting Karachi’s Port Qasim. With efficient trade transportation, the freight service could help relocate more businesses along the passage, bringing growth momentum and industrial transformation to the plateau region, said Luomei, assistant chairwoman of Tibet autonomous regional government.

Gobinda Bahadur Karki, consul general of Nepal in Lhasa, said the freight service will help boost Nepal's economic growth as well as bilateral trade. To further facilitate trade, China is planning to build a railway between Xigaze and Gyirong to shorten the trip.

Yang Guoliang, an official with the Tibet Autonomous Regional Department of Commerce, said Tibet will build and reopen more border ports to expand the trade passage to South Asia.

The trade passage is a national strategy linking China's economic heartland with South Asia, Yang said. Apart from ports and trade passages, China will build border economic zones with South Asia, said Wang Yanqing of the transport research institute under the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planning agency.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/worl...ods-to-nepal-indian-firms-to-be-hit-hard.html
Published Dec 11, 2016, 11:15 am IST
Updated Dec 11, 2016, 11:19 am IST
Dozens of trucks set off from the Tibetan border port of Gyirong for Kathmandu, 860 kilometres away, said a report.

This is the biggest goods movement between the two countries since 2005 when China built what it calls the Friendship Highway to link towns on two sides. (Photo: File)
Beijing: China has initiated a major goods movement to Nepal via Tibet, in a move that could severely affect Indian businesses in the region.

According to a report, the first major consignment of goods worth USD 2.8 million has left the Chinese border for Kathmandu.

This is the biggest goods movement between the two countries since 2005 when China built what it calls the Friendship Highway to link towns on two sides across difficult mountain terrain, said the report.

The move will severely hit Indian businesses which had unfettered access to the Nepali market for decades, said the report.

Goods of daily use, electronic and electrical appliances are being transported. Dozens of trucks set off from the Tibetan border port of Gyirong for Kathmandu, 860 kilometres away, said Chinese news agency Xinhua.

China has been encouraging Nepal to reduce its dependence on India for the supply of goods and services like energy and telecommunication since early this year.

A week ago, Nepal signed an agreement with China on movement and exchange of containers, as well as another for use of Chinese telecommunication goods and facilities.

This move is of mutual benefit to the two countries. China feels that goods movement across the border will encourage Nepal to accept the Chinese offer for rail connectivity. On the other hand, Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda has accepted the movement because he wants Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit the mountainous country.

It is said that China is eager to please Prachanda also because it wants the PM to remain in power for a long time. This is because his main Opposition rival Sher Bahadur Deuba, recently attended a meeting in which the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile was present, thus angering China.

 

[cirr]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/585844/china-launches-cargo-service-linking.html
Beijing, Dec 10, 2016, (PTI)
China has launched a new cargo service linking Tibet and Nepal as dozens of trucks carrying goods worth USD 2.8 million left the Tibetan border port of Gyirong en route to Kathmandu.

The new rail and road cargo service launched yesterday, linking Guangdong, Tibet and Nepal, aims to boost trade with the South Asian neighbour as China pushes forward its Belt and Road (Silk Road) initiative, state-run 'Xinhua' news agency reported today.

A train carrying products, including shoes, clothes, hats, furniture, appliances, electronics and building materials, covered the 5,200-kilometer distance between Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, and Xigaze in Tibet.

The trucks are responsible for the remaining 870 kilometer of the journey, carrying goods to Gyirong and then to the final stop in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital.

This is the first such consignment being sent to Nepal after new Prachanda government took over from his pro-China predecessor K P Sharma Oli, who had signed the transit trade deal with Beijing in March this year in a bid to reduce Nepal's dependence on India despite it being expensive due to the mountainous terrain.

China also agreed his request to build a strategic railway link between the two countries from Gyirong, the last Tibetan county which shares border with Nepal.

China plans to extend the railway later to India and other South Asian countries to promote trade. The process of formation of road and rail links however reportedly slowed down after Prachanda's take over resulting in the delay of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Nepal.

However, Xi and Prachanda met on the sidelines of BRICS summit at Goa in October this year. "The trip between Guangzhou and Gyirong takes about five to six days, much shorter than the 20 days for sea transport," said Yao Yanfeng, general manager of the freight carrier Tibet Tianzhi Import and Export Co. Ltd.

"The time could be cut further to 3.7 days in the future,' the Xinhua report quoted him as saying. Yao said his company is providing relatively quick delivery service and, despite higher costs, it can meet demand for time-sensitive clients.

"In the slower winter season, the train and trucks will make a round trip every one or two weeks. In the busy season next year, there will be two to three per week and, eventually, we're aiming for four to five trips per week," Yao said.

In May, China opened a rail and road cargo service between Lanzhou in northwest China and Kathmandu. The new service starting from Guangzhou serves as an important trade passage between China and Nepal.

Guangdong and neighbouring regions, known as China's manufacturing hubs, are a major source of imports for South Asia, including Nepal. The trade passage, in line with market demand in the medium and long term, could help boost economic cooperation between Guangdong, Tibet and South Asia, officials said.

Guangzhou port was also used recently to launch China-Pakistan Freight service connecting Karachi’s Port Qasim. With efficient trade transportation, the freight service could help relocate more businesses along the passage, bringing growth momentum and industrial transformation to the plateau region, said Luomei, assistant chairwoman of Tibet autonomous regional government.

Gobinda Bahadur Karki, consul general of Nepal in Lhasa, said the freight service will help boost Nepal's economic growth as well as bilateral trade. To further facilitate trade, China is planning to build a railway between Xigaze and Gyirong to shorten the trip.

Yang Guoliang, an official with the Tibet Autonomous Regional Department of Commerce, said Tibet will build and reopen more border ports to expand the trade passage to South Asia.

The trade passage is a national strategy linking China's economic heartland with South Asia, Yang said. Apart from ports and trade passages, China will build border economic zones with South Asia, said Wang Yanqing of the transport research institute under the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planning agency.

Why sourcing from Guangzhou?

Chengdu is more than able to provide all the said products, thus shaving off the distance by a couple of thousands kms.

Once the Chengdu-Golmud-Korla railway is completed, future consignments can be brought to China and Nepal border in 2 days.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/586178/endless-trouble-india-opposes-china.html
Beijing, Dec 12, 2016, (PTI)


Defending the new rail-road cargo route through Tibet to Nepal launched on Friday, today's article said it will boost trade with Nepal as China pushes forward with its Belt and Road (Silk Road) initiative.

Last Friday, dozens of trucks carrying USD 2.8 million worth of products such as clothes, appliances, electronics and building materials left the Chinese border for their destination in Nepal. The new rail and road cargo service, links Guangdong, Tibet and Nepal, official media reported.

"But the move doesn't mean that Chinese goods will push Indian products out of the country. In fact, when it comes to cooperation with other countries, both China and India should refrain from excessive sensitivity," the article said.

"Additionally, in May, China started a rail and road cargo service to the South Asian country as a means to shorten the time spent in sea transport," it said.

"There may be endless trouble in the future if India views efforts to facilitate the export of goods from China's enterprises as a potential threat to the sale of India-made products in Nepal," it added.

China is already planning to build a new railway to further shorten the trade route connecting the two countries as Beijing pushes forward with the Belt and Road initiative, (Silk Road), the article said.

"Strategic suspicion has prompted some people to overly interpreted China and India's respective cooperation with another country," it said.

"China is likely to welcome India to expand its influence through more active participation in regional economic affairs to promote positive development of areas around China.

Hopefully India could also adopt an open-minded attitude toward China's cooperation with South Asian countries," it added.

 

[Jlaw]

Why sourcing from Guangzhou?

Chengdu is more than able to provide all the said products, thus shaving off the distance by a couple of thousands kms.

Once the Chengdu-Golmud-Korla railway is completed, future consignments can be brought to China and Nepal border in 2 days.

this bs article..

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/worl...nepal-president-discusses-bilateral-ties.html
Kathmandu: A delegation from China's ruling Communist party has called on Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari and discussed the bilateral relations in Kathmandu, days after Beijing provided Rs 15.80 billion to the Himalayan nation for post-quake reconstruction activities.

The meeting between the President and Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation led by their Chief of Publicity Department Liu Qibao took place at the presidential residence Sheetal Niwas in Kathmandu on Sunday.

The team discussed the current bilateral relations.

The leaders also discussed about taking the bilateral relations to a more harmonious and stronger level, according to a press statement issued by the President's office.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong was also present. China has provided Rs 15.80 billion to Nepal for post-quake reconstruction activities after a Cabinet meeting on December 11 decided to accept the grants worth Nepalese Rupees 15.80 billion provided by China.

China on December 9 launched a new cargo service linking Tibet and Nepal as dozens of trucks carrying goods worth $2.8 million left the Tibetan border port of Gyirong en route to Kathmandu.

The new rail and road cargo service linking Guangdong, Tibet and Nepal aims to boost trade with the South Asian neighbour as China pushes forward its Belt and Road (Silk Road) initiative.

It was the first such consignment being sent to Nepal after the new Prachanda government took over from his pro-China predecessor KP Sharma Oli, who had signed the transit trade deal with Beijing in March, 2016, in a bid to reduce Nepal's dependence on India despite it being expensive due to the mountainous terrain.