On April 1st, Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha proposed the creation of economic and development corridors with China. Shrestha made the proposal during his nine-day visit to China, where he met with Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and other senior Chinese officials.
The proposal includes the construction of the corridors with Sichuan province, Chongqing, and Tibet to increase “economic growth, trade, tourism, and connectivity.” The proposal increased the three areas since they “oversee and engage in various bilateral activities” and “entrusted” to engage, expand, and promote relations with Nepal through “peripheral diplomacy.”
Shrestha said that the focus of his visit was economic diplomacy and that “Nepal has been thinking about this new concept [the idea of corridors] after China introduced the Trans Himalayan Multi Dimensional Connectivity Network (THMDCN).” The THMDCN will comprise both “economic and connectivity corridors” that will be developed through the Belt and Road Initiative.
Shrestha also met with various Chinese Communist Party officials during the visit and reaffirmed that Nepal’s government is stable after the ruling government’s reorganization in early March.
