Kathmandu, Sept. 18: If it materialises
within a few years, China's ‘One Belt, One Road (OBOR)’ initiative will yield
amazing advantages to Nepal.
Experts say that it would open
new possibilities to tap the country’s potential in trade, tourism,
transportation and diplomacy through technology transfer, high standard
infrastructure and mobility.
“The OBOR strategy will help
Nepal connect to the global value chain by developing world class
infrastructure. It will bring tremendous benefits to the country, which we have
hardly imagined,” said Prof. Dr. Surya Raj Acharya, an infrastructure expert.
OBOR is a strategy to develop
transportation infrastructure connecting Europe and Asia, with its primary
focus on connectivity and cooperation among the countries in the region.
Proposed by Chinese President Xi
Xinping in 2013, it is also known as Belt and Road, Belt and Road Initiative,
the Silk Road Economic Belt or the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also
has been promoting the idea in Europe and Asia
during his state visits.
OBOR will connect about 60
countries which lie on the ancient silk route in Central Asia, West Asia, the
Middle East and Europe. It also includes Oceania and East
Africa .
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“The Chinese announcement to develop a high
speed railway network up to Kerung by 2020 is a part of that strategy,” said
Dr. Acharya.
According to him, the OBOR infrastructure
would be of high standard and contribute to Nepal’s development.
As the strategy includes the development of
railway networks, Nepal can have an alternative route for international trade
via China to Europe and the rest of the world.
“Distance does not matter for a high-speed
train. It takes 14 to 30 days to bring goods from Kolkata port to Nepal while a
high speed train can bring goods from Chinese ports in Sanya and Guangzhou in just
4-5 days,” said Dr. Acharya.
As the Chinese railway network
is connected to the European and Russian networks, it will open new markets for
Nepalese goods which will have a positive impact on foreign direct investment.
Foreign Affairs expert Hiranya
Lal Shrestha said that OBOR would be a boon for the whole of South Asia.
“China is setting its eyes on
the populous states of India, like Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh as they
together make up a big market. India is a bit apprehensive about the strategy,
but sooner or later it will join OBOR as it would benefit from the development
with straight land access to China, the Middle East and Europe,” said Shrestha.
After India signed a security
pact with the United States, South Asia has attracted global attention. India
has linked OBOR with its security concerns.
“China is in a global geopolitical tussle
because of the Strait of Malacca, which happens to be the route for about 80
per cent of China’s international trade. Therefore, Indian apprehension is whether
China is trying to develop OBOR as an alternative to the Malacca way,” Dr.
Acharya said.
According to the experts, India
considers OBOR not only as an infrastructure development initiative but also as
a tool by China to impose its supremacy in South Asia.
But, sooner or later, India is expected
to join the OBOR block.
“India had a different view on the
Kodari road when Nepal started to build it. But, India thinks differently about it
now. It has sought transit to Tibet through the Kodari road to supply goods,”
said Shrestha.
Former secretary at the Ministry
of Infrastructure and Transport, Tulasi Prasad Sitaula, said that such
development would help the country integrate into the global economy.
He said that the two road
networks - Kakarbhitta to Mahendranagar and Birgunj to Tatopani - have already
been included in the Asian Highway Network.
As Tatopani was damaged in the
earthquake last year, preparations are underway to include Kerung in the
strategy instead.
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