There was a big event last week.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with visiting Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of foreign affairs. The two sides determined to speed up the two Nepal traditional overland channel serious damage repair in 2015 4.25 earthquake; more concern is that the talks also determine the construction project of a project - Nigeria cross-border railway.
What exactly does this strategic rail mean for China and Nepal? Lin Minwang, a researcher at the Fudan University and an Institute on international studies, analyzed it for us.
Determination
The construction of Nigeria railway project is not a whim.
In 2005, King Gyanendra of Nepal, Nepal to create "transit economies", play the role of a bridge between South and China, the revival of the southern silk road. More specific requirements is the border of China and Nepal can open more routes to the development of bilateral trade, hope Chinese Qinghai Tibet railway will be extended to the border of China and Nepal and Kathmandu;
In March last year, when Nepalese Prime Minister Ollie visited China, he proposed a plan to link the Qinghai Tibet Railway with the three largest city in Nepal, which was adopted by the Chinese side of Li Keqiang. The Nepalese foreign minister Wang Yi said after the talks, the two sides should actively carry out the project survey, design, feasibility study, training and other cooperation, for as soon as possible to make the idea become a reality.
At present, the main completed by freight between China and Nepal highway. But Nepal highway is poor, vulnerable to natural disasters, and the capacity is nearly saturated. Therefore, after the opening of the Qinghai Tibet railway, Nepal urgently needs a convenient access to China and the outside world to solve the dilemma.
On the other hand, Nepal can also catch the express train from china. only to a tourist, Nepal's income will be very substantial: Nepal's former ambassador Mahesh said, in 2016, Tibet received 23 million domestic and foreign tourists, if Nepal can attract one of the 1/10 influence on Nepal's economy will be enormous.
In fact, in August 2014 from Lhasa to Shigatse after the opening of the railway, then extended 540 kilometers, arrived China Nepal border Geelong port has iron nails, as early as April 2015, China clearly expressed such a plan. But whether the railway continues to reach Kathmandu is clearly a test of Nepal's resolve.
But again, since it was already planned, why did it really drag on until now?
India is an important force behind the striking one snag after another.
resistance
As the largest country in the region, India accounted for nearly 80% of the total economic output in South Asia, and in South Asia there was no doubt that "unipolar hegemony"". During the cold war, India dismembered Pakistan, annexed Sikkim, and let South Asian neighbors "fear and hate", but also helpless.
Nepal is located in the south of Himalaya Range, is a landlocked country in full. Because of the geographical barrier of Himalaya Range, Nepal has long relied on transit India to transport goods. Nepal's dependence on India's economy is as high as over 60%. India has been firmly in control of Nepal, thanks to its geographical proximity and its economic and trade dependence.
A typical example is the September 2015 launch of the new constitution of Nepal, the Indian people failed to meet the Madhesi demands, India deliberately take half the embargo ", that makes the whole nation in the oil and gas shortage, forcing the government of Nepal to the greater Indian political power. Many Nepalese elite understand, if more people gave the votes (voting rights), the Nepal from "Sikkim" to further. After that, Nigeria's relationship hit rock bottom.
Faced with India's hegemonic diplomacy, Nepal, although a small country, wanted to break away from it, and they also knew how to borrow China to resist India's influence.
In March 2016, when he was Prime Minister of Nepal Oliver's visit to China, signed the input of oil and gas and goods in transit agreement with China, trying to get rid of the plight of the completely dependent on India; to the government of India has a great concern in nepal. The recent confrontation, the eventual withdrawal of India, has undoubtedly given Nepal a chance to break India's control - India's regional hegemony, which has finally come to terms with the "Great Northern powers". Thus, Nepal seized the opportunity and drew closer ties with china.
By strengthening and China contact Nepal railway, is undoubtedly a very feasible step.
strategy
On Chinese, this section of the railway the significance of promoting the "Belt and Road Initiative" strategy.
"Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to Nepal when it said that China hopes China, Nepal, the India three party maintain mutual promotion and virtuous cycle of positive interaction, to probe into the possibility of our three party cooperation. In May 2015, Modi's visit to China, President Xi Jinping proposed the establishment of China India India China Nepal economic corridor, the prime minister modi's positive response, and proposed the establishment of a joint research group of Nigeria India Economic Corridor initiative.
But after that, India shelved the proposal.
Since India to use three of the trilateral cooperation, to promote the China Nepal bilateral. China railway construction is the case, it will significantly promote economic ties between Tibet and central asia. At present, a large number of daily necessities are from the mainland in transportation, the cost is relatively high; railway came after the South Asian output of tropical fruits, daily necessities can be directly through the railway transportation to Chinese Tibet, helps to reduce the cost of living in Chinese.
More noteworthy is that the both sides agreed to formally signed a memorandum of understanding as soon as possible energy cooperation, strengthen cooperation in oil and gas, hydropower and clean energy, and help to achieve diversification of energy sources. After all, the oil and gas imports via India, like Le in Nepal, a rope around his neck, only the diversification of energy sources, in order to get rid of the noose of nepal.
The construction of the railway, will drive the entire Nepal India economic linkage, and gradually realize the existence of China normalization in South Asia, part of India and forced Chinese common development in South Asia, also can increase the economic development of Nepal and foreign support.
In other words, our economic corridor is to promote political stability in Nepal, Nepal is to support, improve the people's livelihood support; objectively, but also conducive to Nepal to reduce its dependence on India, China may provide for the further development of economic ties with the South Asian subcontinent hinterland.
At the same time, we also know that the general economic development of South Asian countries lags behind, and there is a bottleneck problem of backward infrastructure. Because of India in South Asia integration in South Asian countries to promote ineffective, generally welcomed China expanded presence in South Asia economy, generally regarded "China Belt and Road Initiative" is the development opportunity of the South Asian countries. Therefore, the Nigeria railway construction to promote the construction of our economic corridor, but also need to promote and develop the relationship between the Chinese and South Asian countries.
cooperation
"New York Times" once said "analogy, Nepal is caught in the middle of a mouse" India two elephants; and King Prihvi of Nepal, the country is known as the "in between China and India the two stone crevice of sweet potato".
In fact, Nepal is indeed a strategic buffer between the two great powers of China and India, and a stage for the two big powers to compete in soft power in South asia. In 2012, Prime Minister Bhattarai said that Nepal should play a "bridge of friendship", rather than "stuck in the stone of sweet potato", this is not only to South Asia overlord India some assurance, but also to look forward to three multilateral cooperation.
Wang Yi also at a press conference, said, Nepal is located in China, India and between the two major powers, can become a bridge and link between the two major emerging economies. As a common neighbor of Nepal, China and India should have the mind and commitment of the great powers, respect the legitimate rights and interests of Nepal, support Nepal's independence and help Nepal develop and progress".
The implication is clear: to respect the legitimate rights and interests of independent and Chinese in Nepal, Nepal and India to help development; there is no such mind and act, depends on India.
