REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Sept 27: Vice President Paramananda Jha has asked Chinese authorities to expand Qinghai-Tibet Railway up to the Nepal border.
At a meeting with Secretary of Communist Party of China Committee of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Chen Quanguo in Lhasa, Vice President Jha requested the Chinese government to expand the railway up to Nepal’s border. He also thanked to the Chinese Central Government and TAR for their continuous support for Nepal’s socio-economic development and peace process.
China has already opened its railway route from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, to Shigatse. In 2006, China opened the first railway to Tibet, linking Lhasa to China via the province of Qinghai.
According to a statement issued by Nepal’s Consulate General’s Office in Lhasa, the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, including trade, tourism, economic cooperation and development between Nepal and TAR of the People’s Republic of China. Jha had reiterated Nepal’s firm commitment to ‘one China’ policy. On the occasion, Chen Quanguo appreciated Nepal’s policy toward China and her support in maintaining peace and stability in the bordering areas and not allowing any anti-China activities in the Nepali territory.
He also assured of further cooperation and assistance from TAR government. The meeting was followed by official banquet hosted by the CPC secretary in honor of Vice President Jha and other delegation members.
Vice-President Jha had left for Lhasa on Wednesday, leading a Nepalese delegation to participate in the First China Tibet Tourism and Culture Expo jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, National Tourism Bureau and the Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.
Vice President Jha is scheduled to return home on Sunday after participating in the Expo as Guest of Honor.
