A railway tunnel will be dug under the Himalayas to link western Tibet with Kathmandu, demonstrating Beijing’s growing strategic influence over Nepal.
Chinese media reported that the line would connect the Tibetan city of Xigaze with Nepal’s capital, one of several agreements made this week as Beijing seeks to counter Indian influence in Nepal.
Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, the Nepalese prime minister, visited Beijing and the two sides signed more than ten deals involving energy, transport, infrastructure and political collaboration.
India has been watching Beijing’s increasingly strong relationship with Nepal anxiously and has sought to further its influence by seeking to develop alternative projects with Kathmandu, its traditional ally.
The route will help to increase Nepal’s commerce with the Gyirong trading post in Xigaze and