Depth report

　　

Kathmandu-Hundreds of trucks are waiting for orders to enter Tibet in the border town of Resova in Nepal.

    These truck drivers carrying goods between Geelong County in Tibet, China and Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, do not yet know when they will be able to enter Tibet.

Druba Shrestha, an assistant border officer of the Nepal Armed Police Force, said: "We will let the convoy cross the bridge after being notified by the Chinese side, otherwise they will have to wait here."

    Resowa is currently the only way to enter Tibet from Nepal. After the 2015 earthquake, the route from Nepal to China via Kodari was closed, leaving only the route through the foundation of Resova in the mountainous region. But part of the infrastructure in Nepal for this new channel is terrible.

    The fortress of Resowa stands quietly less than a hundred meters away from the small security checkpoint. The fortress has a galvanized roof and fences. This border fortress was built by the Nepalese Prime Minister Chung Bahadur Rana in the 19th century when he invaded Tibet 162 years ago. Next to it used to be the Nepal Revenue Agency, but it has now been turned into a rubble in the earthquake.

    In the vicissitudes of life, this place has now become an important export of the Chinese government’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative or “New Silk Road”.

    A section of highway will connect Nepal to the entire South and Central Asia region through the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in Shigatse, 500 kilometers away. China is expected to build the railway to the Geelong port 24 kilometers away from the border between Nepal and China in 2020.

Nepal's railway dream

    In 1927, during the British colonization of India, the first railway was built on the southeast border of Nepal, which was mainly used to transport timber to India. After timber transportation stopped, the railway began to transport passengers. In 2014, due to long years of disrepair and losses, this railway line was officially closed.

    After the British colonial rule ended, there was little development of Nepal's railway. It was not until 2006 that Nepal signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network and joined the construction of this railway connecting Europe and China’s Pacific port.

    Currently, there are no railways in use in Nepal. But at least on paper, there are already construction plans, and they are all big plans.

    The new 20-year plan for the development of Nepal’s railways plans to build 4,000 kilometers of railways, including multiple lines from the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau into the flood plains of the Ganges River in India. In addition, Nepal plans to build a 7-storey building in Kathmandu as the office of the newly established Ministry of Railways of Nepal.

    Prakash Apadhaye, spokesman for the Nepal Ministry of Railways, said: “We are carefully studying this east-west railway line. Of the six railway connections provided by India, two are likely to be available next year. Southern Nepal is put into operation. We have written to the Chinese government and hope that the Chinese side will select suitable companies to investigate the Kathmandu-Geelong railway line. We hope that this project can be started as soon as possible."

    Nepal is located inland, with a small land area, surrounded by mountains, and sandwiched between two major economic powers. Railways have never been the priority of the Nepalese government before, but it is now changing because China has successfully completed the Shigatse area. And announced that it will extend the railway to the border area between China and Nepal in 2020.

    Nepalese officials are also full of confidence in all this. Apadhaye said: "In the past we paid too much attention to roads, but in fact, it is not impossible to connect the northern mountains and southern plains by rail. We are confident that this ideal will soon become a reality."

    At present, the railway plan for the northern border area of Nepal has just begun to take shape, and the route across the southern border is expected to be put into operation next year. Apadhaiye said with confidence: "We have been building a railway in the southern border area and it is expected that this high-efficiency railway line will be put into operation early next year." After completion, the new line will connect China's Geelong County and Kathmandu.

Nepal looks forward to "One Belt One Road"

    The Nepalese government has set up a temporary immigration office in Timlay, 3 kilometers away from the base of Resowa, to issue Nepalese visas for Chinese tourists who come to travel.

    Kubu Raj Shrestha, assistant visa officer at Timley’s office, said: “The prospects for tourism here are actually very good. More and more Chinese people are coming to Nepal for tourism, but the government does not take this as a return. I don’t need to say anything, just look at the process at the border office to understand."

    While talking, another group of Chinese tourists walked into this small and cramped room to collect visas. In order to make room, others have to go out first. According to Shrestha, about 1,300 Chinese tourists came to Nepal via this port in April this year, but this number will decline as the monsoon season begins in September.

    Although the Nepalese government is very enthusiastic about the North-South railway project and the “Belt and Road” initiative, the fast-track work efficiency demonstrated in the road reconstruction after the 2015 earthquake has caused many locals to doubt the government’s ability to carry out these projects in the future. .

    Nocco Gurung owns a small house in the local area. He runs a hotel on the first floor and rents it to the government as a temporary office for the Immigration Bureau. She said: "I don't know if they can repair the railway, and no one told us about this."

    However, you can still see excavators on the mountain widening the road. It is understood that, 17 kilometers away from the border between Nepal and China, the Nepalese army is struggling to clear the Bagmati-Singan Brubes section along the Cuisuli River.

    This section of road is expected to be completed this year (or next year at the latest) and will become part of the northern border of China's Tibet Autonomous Region with the Prithvi Highway, which connects Kathmandu with southern Nepal and India.

Can the railway save the bilateral relations between Nepal and India?

    Nepal’s ambassador to China Lila Mani Podjaer once tweeted after the two countries signed the memorandum: “If Nepal can be connected to China’s railway network, it will be equivalent to being connected to the whole of Europe by land. together."

    However, the challenge of successfully completing this plan with the Chinese government is not small. Because Nepal also hopes to receive support from its southern neighbor, India, not only in terms of railway construction, but also political support for the implementation of the 2015 new constitution.

    However, since the promulgation of the new constitution of Nepal, the relations between Nepal and India have become complicated. India has repeatedly emphasized that in the process of revising the Nepalese constitution, it is also necessary to take into account the opposition to civil rights and other issues in the southern plains.

    These objections are related to India's land freight sanctions against Nepal. Therefore, then Prime Minister Oli of Nepal chose to get closer to China and signed a series of agreements, including the historic re-export trade agreement. The “One Belt, One Road” agreement officially signed by the Nepalese government in May 2017 was basically finalized during this time.

    Rabindra Adikari, chairman of the Nepal Development Council Committee, said: "Although China has its own interests in launching the'Belt and Road' initiative, we should not miss the opportunity for this reason."

    India has expressed concern about the “Belt and Road” initiative: the “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor” (CPEC) passes through the disputed area of Kashmir under Pakistan’s control. India tried to persuade Nepal and Bangladesh not to join the “Belt and Road”, but it did not seem to have any effect.

    Indeed, some people think that India’s move is just futile.

    Supporters in Nepal also believe that India will eventually join the plan. Apadhaye pointed out: “Connecting the Indian railway network with China’s Geelong port is the most suitable route for its access to the Trans-Asian Railway network. Indian technical experts should be very clear about the geographic value of this.”

    The Trans-Asian Railway Network (TAR) connecting Europe and Asia has three planned routes, of which Nepal is the southernmost part. In addition, Nepal is also an important link connecting Shanghai and Moscow railway lines. The other southern branch line connects Hong Kong and Singapore with Spain in Europe through India and Iran.

    Apadhaye added: "Our geographic location is of very important strategic significance and is a bridge connecting the two Trans-Asian Railway network."

    Although China and India have not yet reached an agreement on the “Belt and Road” initiative, Nepal’s political circles remain optimistic about this initiative.

    Adhikari said: "Once the railway linking China is completed, Nepalese goods can be transported to the global market through the Asia-Europe transportation network, which will effectively help Nepal break through the geopolitical restrictions. All Southeast Asian countries will use this railway line. And benefit."

Challenges are endless

    Although the plan for the high mountain railway and highway has been completed, the project still faces many challenges in the future. After entering Nepal from the Geelong port, the mountains along the road are undulating, and earthquakes and landslides are commonplace.

    Some officials said that thanks to China's commitment to investment, the financial pressure on the entire project is far less than technical constraints.

    The Nepal Railway Department said that about 90% of the Kathmandu-Geelong railway line may be bridges or tunnels.

    "Although Nepal is facing considerable technical challenges, the construction of the Kathmandu-Geelong railway line is not impossible, but it is not as easy as the Kathmandu-Birkanji section of the southern border area. "

    The lack of experience and technical strength in Nepal's railway construction has become a major problem. For this reason, Nepal began to seek help from neighboring countries and vigorously cultivate talents in this field.

       This railway line to China passes through the most famous tourist destination in Nepal-Langtang National Park. Nepal is often referred to as the illegal smuggling of wildlife products between South Asia and China. Therefore, the national park staff worry that once the railway is completed, it may facilitate the smuggling of protected species.

    The head of Langtang National Park, Yubaraj Regmi, said: “We are now aware of this problem and a little worried. The smuggling situation on this route has already risen, so this year we plan to establish a separate establishment in the border area. A wildlife checkpoint to contain this problem."

    Due to political turmoil, Nepal has not held local elections for 20 years. After the monarchy that had ruled the country for 239 years was abolished and the establishment of a republican government was announced, local affairs have been in charge of government-appointed officials. It was not until this year that local elections were officially resumed. This round of local elections in Nepal is divided into three stages, and the last election will be held on September 18.

    In the past, there were serious barriers to communication between the government and local residents. The newly elected politicians hope to change this situation, and they also hope to cooperate with the central government to promote the implementation of the "Belt and Road" and other agendas.

    Kesang Tamang, the mayor of Gesangkunda Guanparica, a city on the border between Nigeria and China, said: “At the grassroots level, there is still too little information and discussions about the Belt and Road Initiative.”

    "But recently we have got everyone's authorization and are ready to perform our duties."