China seeks to boost trans-Himalayan project amid contest to win over Nepal

China is calling to accelerate a trans-Himalayan network project to connect it with Nepal as Beijing works to draw its Himalayan neighbour closer – a development that may raise concerns from regional rival India.

The head of China International Development Cooperation Agency, Chen Xiaodong, said, “[China] is willing to strengthen the alignment of development cooperation strategies with Nepal and accelerate the construction of a trans-Himalayan multidimensional connectivity network”.

Chen was speaking during a three-day visit to Nepal that ended on Tuesday.

04:20

Will India and China’s new border deal lead to long-term peace in the disputed Himalayas?

“[We] should implement more projects in areas such as agriculture, new energy, health and education to promote Nepal’s economic and social development and improve people’s livelihoods,” Chen was quoted saying in a statement published on the agency’s WeChat account on Wednesday.

Chen’s visit comes as China has managed to repair ties with its regional rival India after a tense relationship following a border clash in 2020, and as it competes for influence in the region to win over partners such as Nepal.

Landlocked Nepal sits between India and China, with India traditionally seen as Nepal’s main ally because of their shared culture and proximity

However, it has been drawn closer to China in recent years because of Beijing’s infrastructure investment. China has in recent years boosted economic interactions with the Himalayan nation by pumping millions of dollars into projects, ranging from roads to hydropower plants.

South China Morning Post