Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs KP Sharma Oli said Sunday that the Chinese government was positive over extending its railway to the Nepal-China border or even inside the Nepalese territory.
Talking to reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport on his return from China after a 9-day tour, Oli said the Chinese officials ”took positively the Nepal’s request to extend the railway” to inside Nepal or at least to the border.
He further said the request for expansion of Chinese railway, which connected Tibet’s Lhasa with mainland China a couple of months ago, was part of Nepal’s plan to develop Panchkhal or Trishuli as a ‘special economic zone’.
Oli informed that the Chinese side had agreed to provide assistance to Nepal for development of tourism and the industrial sector and install x-ray machines at the TIA. China has also agreed to ease the transit restrictions on Nepalis in Hong Kong.
He also said China was in favour of peace and progress in Nepal and fully supported democracy in Nepal.
During his China tour, Oli met with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Commerce Minister Bo Xilai and other senior government officials and discussed issues of bilateral cooperation including trade and economic assistance.
Minister of State for Environment, Science and Technology, Man Bahadur BK, a few members of parliament and businesspersons accompanied him during his China tour beginning August 26.