In a recent news story published by China’s English daily, The Global Times,  it is said the railway will be linked to Rasuwagadhi, Nepal, through Shigatse-Kerung stretch. The railway extension to Shigatse would formally open next month, the news further reported.

Rasuwagadhi is about 500 kilometres from Shigatse. That link is scheduled for its own extension to two separate points, one with Nepal border and the other with the border of India and Bhutan, the newspaper cited Mr Yang Yulin, the deputy head

of Tibet’s Railways Office. Yulin said the railway line would be constructed from 2016 to 2020.

“China is always positive to extend railway link to Nepali border. There is a high possibility of expansion of the railway line that has already linked Shigatse,” said Nepali Ambassador to China Mahesh Maske. He said the railway line could be linked to Kathmandu once it has reached Nepal-China border.

With the expansion of the rail line, it is hoped that the trade and tourism industries will be flourish in both Nepal and China.

Nepali Consulate General in Lhasa Hari Prasad Basyal said the rail line extension will promote trade and tourism and strengthened mutual relationship between the people of Nepal and China.

Chinese analysts opine that the rail network expansion will be crucial in economic, cultural, and tourism promotion in South Asia. Professor Wang Hong Wei, a leading Chinese expert on Nepal, said along with Nepal and India, even Tibet will take advantage in economic development and tourism promotion with the railway link. He said the people of both the countries (Nepal and China) have common dream of extending the railway line to Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, through Kathmandu.