Scholars from China and Nepal shared views on various aspects of China-Nepal relations, China-India-Nepal trilateral partnership and the one-belt-one-road (OBOR) initiative introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Making a presentation on “Belt One Road: Emerging Opportunity for China-Nepal relations”, Executive Deputy Director of Institute of South Asian Studies at Sichuan University Li Tao shed light on five advantages of OBOR for Nepal: promoting connectivity, cultural and religious exchanges between China and Nepal and solid foundation for policy cooperation. 

Di Fangyao, deputy director of Institute of South Asia at the Xizang Minzu University; Chinese scholars Yang Luhuiand and Wang Meiling; Senior fellow of Charhar Institute Prof Dr Wang Yiwei presented their papers, highlighting Sino-Nepali ties as well as possibilities on connectivity with South Asia and beyond.

Commenting on papers presented by the Chinese scholars, Nepal’s former secretary Tulsi Prasad Sitaula said Nepal seemed like a “silent observer” to the great initiative taken by China like OBOR. “What are Nepal’s preparations for realising this grand initiative?” asked Sitaula, while calling on the Chinese think tank to forward their recommendations to the government of Nepal on ways to benefit from the initiative.

Connectivity expert Surya Raj Acharya, former attorney general Yubaraj Sangroula, Acting Chairman of China Study Centre in Kathmandu Sundarnath Bhattarai and Shambhuram Simkhada were among the Nepali experts who participated in the two-day conference on Wednesday. The event titled “China-Nepal Think Tank

Conference” was jointly organised by Xinhua News Agency Kathmandu Bureau and Nepal Study Centre at Hebei University of China.