China and Nepal have agreed to build a railway connecting Tibet with Kathmandu, among a raft of deals signed during the Nepali prime minister鈥檚 visit to Beijing, reports said Friday.
Nepal is seeking closer ties and much-needed energy and infrastructure investment from China, which has flexed greater economic and diplomatic muscle in its Himalayan neighbour in recent years.
Beijing鈥檚 growing presence has raised hackles in Nepal鈥檚 traditional ally India.
The two countries signed more than 10 鈥渃ooperative documents鈥� on Thursday during Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli鈥檚 trip to China, according to the China Daily.
The new rail route will link Nepal鈥檚 capital with the Gyirong trading port in the Tibetan city of Xigaze, according to the China Daily, citing a Chinese vice foreign minister.
Indian media said the two sides signed eight agreements worth $2.4 billion on Wednesday, with Chinese investors ploughing money into developing hydroelectricity, water resources, cement factories, fruit cultivation and farming.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told Oli on Thursday he hoped that the two countries would begin negotiations on a free trade agreement 鈥渁s early as possible鈥�, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
China is ready to work with Nepal to build an interconnectivity network across the Himalayas through ports, railways, highways, aviation and communications, Li said.
For his part, Oli expressed Nepal鈥檚 support for China鈥檚 Belt and Road initiative, a global trade infrastructure project, according to Xinhua. New Delhi opposes the initiative.
India, which has long considered Nepal part of its sphere of influence, has pledged its own major infrastructure projects to counter China鈥檚 influence but Beijing still outspends it in the Himalayan nation.聽 聽/vvp