Opinion | From the beauty of Himalaya to the blue ocean of Asia Pacific

By Augustus K. Yeung

INTRODUCTION

If you are dreaming of a white Christmas in Himalaya, your dream is not too far off; it will be fulfilled as soon as the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network is completed, a plan which is now being seriously set into motion between Nepal and China.

If you doubt that this engineering feat will ever be accomplished, just think of China's high-speed railway that brought athletes during Beijing's Winter Olympics to the venues; believe it or not, a significant part of the rail was dug under miles of granite lying below the Great Wall of China, a work of wonder that wowed the two New York Times journalists who were dispatched to cover the sports events.

If you are, like me, dreaming of building a healthy and long-lasting relationship between China and India, the construction of this Trans-Himalayan Network will fulfil our "impossible" dream! It certainly will change the Indians' perception of the Chinese for the better. Unlike the British colonialists, China will not take advantage of India; and the Chinese will not coerce the Indians to go against their will, the way the U.S. have done to its "allies".

The following excerpt is a description of the diplomatic efforts made between Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister and the Nepal's ambassador to China.

Nepalese and Indians are Dreaming of a Trans-Himalayan Railway Network

Nepalis are dreaming of a China-Nepal cross-border railway that they believe will enhance connectivity, trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and beyond, said Bishnu Pukar Shresthak Nepal's ambassador to China.

While meeting with visiting Nepali Foreign Minister Narayan Kahdka last month in Qingdao, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that China will use aid funds for Nepal to support the feasibility study of the Chinese-Nepal cross-border railway. The Chinese side will send experts to Nepal to conduct survey work within this year.

The two sides will also build a Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, according to a statement issued after the ministers' meeting.

"The Chinese-Nepal cross-border railway is designed to link Shigatse of the Tibet autonomous region and Keyrung Port of Nepal," Shrestha said. "The railway is not only important for Nepal, but also strengthen connectivity with neighboring countries. For example, India will also have the opportunity to benefit from it."

Shrestha said transportation has stagnated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many goods have been stuck in the land ports and personnel flows have also been hindered.

"The Nepali government and people are looking forward to the construction of the railway as soon as possible. We will definitely benefit from it, including trade and people-to-people exchanges," he said.

The Railway Will Help Bring Excellent Nepalis Goods to China

Shrestha said the railway will help bring excellent Nepali goods to China, such as cashmere fabrics, wood products, handicrafts and organic alpine agricultural products. The country is also going to launch its national pavilion on China's e-commerce platform JD to reach more Chinese customers directly.

"Once the China-Nepal Railway is completed, it will greatly save time and transportation costs for cross-border trade. Goods that used to have to be shipped to China or India by sea can also be transported via the railway at a significant cost reduction," he said.

As Tibet is a famous tourist resort, he also expects more tourists to cross the border to visit Nepal once the railway has been completed.

The construction of the China-Nepal cross-border railway will meet many obstacles such as challenging topography and high altitudes. Linking China and Nepal by railway also requires tunneling through the Himalayas, an unimaginably complex engineering feat.

Shrestha said he is confident in Chinese technology, as China has rich experiences in construction, including the China-Laos Railway, which open in December, linking Southwest China's Kunming with the Laotian capital Vientiane.

He added that accusing China of leading developing countries int so-called debt traps is a misunderstanding or a fabricated story.

"All details concerning the railway, including the cost and the financing, will be discussed and negotiated by both sides together based on mutual benefit and sustainability, which does not bring into anything like debt trap," he said.

CONCLUSION

As U.S. President Joe Biden has recently made public a series of policies which he called "Pivot" to the Asia-Pacific region, his intention is to contain and confront China. Beijing's way of reacting has been to continue its non-alliance tradition, a mindset that has been kept intact since the days of the nation's early founders.

India's early founders, too, have been adopting this non-alliance foreign policy since its independence from the British.

Both India and China had been humiliated by colonial powers for decades in the past, and they are now determined to renounce hegemony.

The building of infrastructures in this Nepal-China border area will be facilitating trade, commerce and people-to-people interaction. This is good for building ties.

Furthermore, just as the Nepalis diplomat has said, this is a good way to refute the

"debt trap" smearing of China's reputation.

It will certainly promote trade in this mountainous area, which is landlocking the Nepalis, depriving them of employment opportunities, and forcing them to work overseas as security personnel.

The building of these infrastructures will promote tourism in and around the Himalaya regions, whose great natural beauty charms mountain climbers who sing "Colorado, Rocky Mountain High".

Qs the tourism industry is further developed, such exquisite beauty of the Himalayas will give Asians their striking scenic view and version of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

As an aspiring Asian, I can foresee Asia being developed from land to sea, as illustrated by the Asia-Pacific Ocean and the Himalayan Mountains.

Alas, as Asia is rising, the United States of America is losing its luster and world leadership, due to politicizing and economic mismanagement. And the resulting sour grapes seem to be multiplying, poisoning, and disappointing its people, furiously uttering a scream of sound and fury. How sad!

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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