KATHMANDU, June 17: A government delegation on Monday left for China on Monday to discuss the Detail Project Report (DPR) of much-talked-about Kerung-Kathmandu Railway with the Chinese side.
The delegation led by Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Karki will hold talks with officials from the Chinese National Railway Authority in Beijing, according to Department of Railway.
The railway project is expected to enhance connectivity between Nepal and China.
Discussions will revolve around preparing the DPR and investment modality of this multi-billion dollars project, officials of the department said.
Nepali delegation off to China
The two sides are holding the meeting in Beijing as agreed during the third Nepal-China Railway Meeting held in Kathmandu in December last year.
Officials from the Department of Railway and Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport are the members of the Nepali delegation.
Earlier this year, Nepal had requested the Chinese side for the grant to prepare the DPR of the Kerung-Kathmandu cross-border railway. However, the Chinese side has yet to give a response to Nepal's request.
Last year, the Chinese side had completed the pre-feasibility study for the Kerung-Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railway project at its own cost.
In April this year, a joint communiqué issued after the conclusion of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing had incorporated the Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network and Nepal-China cross-border railway.
In their joint communiqué titled " Belt and Road Co-operation: Shaping a Brighter Shared Future" in Beijing, the top dignitaries from the participating countries including Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari had expressed their support to build on the progress already made in developing economic corridors and economic and trade co-operation zones in various countries including the Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network and Nepal-China cross-border railway.
It was believed that the declaration helped to create a conducive environment for expediting the implementation of projects in Nepal under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative.
Nepal and China were agreed to set up Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network during Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's visit to Beijing in the third week of June with the view of enhancing connectivity in wide-ranging areas including ports, roads, railways, aviation, and communications.
