Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli dropped a bombshell on Tuesday, urging lightning-fast progress on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects to reshape Nepal from a landlocked nation into a thriving land-connected hub. In a high-powered meeting with Chen Xiaodong, Chairman of China’s International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), at his Baluwatar residence, Oli pushed for stronger Nepal-China ties and swift action on infrastructure deals.

Oli reaffirmed Nepal’s staunch support for the One-China policy and thanked Beijing for aiding critical infrastructure at the Rasuwagadhi border, recently hit by flash floods. He stressed the need for seamless operations at other crossings like Kimathanka and called for accelerated BRI projects to boost connectivity. “We must transform Nepal into a land-connected nation,” Oli declared, as per his secretariat.

The BRI, China’s ambitious New Silk Road plan, aims to build land and sea infrastructure across countries like Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. CIDCA, Beijing’s key foreign aid agency, oversees these global initiatives. However, the BRI has sparked global debate over China’s debt diplomacy, with concerns about unsustainable loans for smaller nations. India has fiercely criticized the initiative, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which crosses Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.

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Oli’s bold vision signals a deepening partnership with China, promising a game-changing transformation for Nepal’s connectivity and development landscape.

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