KATHMANDU, Nov 16: Laurence Brahm, chairperson of Himalayan Consensus Institute, has said that that the major challenge of the belt and road initiative (BRI) is the issue of cultural connectivity which calls for more cultural dialogue, not only in China, but in all the countries across Asia and Europe. 

Speaking at an interaction on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) organized in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Brahm acknowledged that the BRI is going to be intrusive, but according to him, ecological civilization needs to run in parallel to the intrusion; and it is the path that China has taken in the recent years. 

Regarding speculations on financing of BRI projects, Brahm noted that China is no longer the factory of the world, it is the investor of the world and will soon be the central bank of the world that creates financial architectures. 

Also speaking at the event, Sujeev Shakya, chairperson of Nepal Economic Forum, said that Nepal, rather than pursuing equidistance policy between China and India, should take advantage of the synergy that China's BRI and India's Act East policy presents. "Silk route was not only about trade of silk and tea but also an exchange of values and culture which needs to come back," he added.

 
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