Excerpt from report by Gopal Khanal, published by Nepalese newspaper Kantipur on 5 June
Lhasa, Tibet, 4 June: Tibet is completing its Qinghai-Tibet railway project in a year. The railway is regarded by China as a milestone in its go-west development campaign.
China plans to connect the railway up to Khasa [town at the border with Nepal] via Lhasa and Shigatse.
“We have already formulated plans to connect the railway to Nepal,” Yang Yu Ling, director of the railway project, told a team of Nepalese journalists. “This will have a positive impact on the development of Nepal and China.” He said that the railway will increase the number of tourists visiting Nepal.
“The railway will connect Lhasa by the end of this year. When the first phase of works are complete, it will help both the countries in their trade and development,” said Yang.
Construction of nearly 814 km of the railway has been completed in the first phase of the project. The Qinghai-Lhasa railway has a total length of 1,966 km. The 1,118-km section from Golmud to Lhasa is currently under construction. One thousand kilometres of this section is already complete.
China has allocated nearly 225bn rupees for the project.
In the 1960s, Mao Zedong had said that if a railway is constructed, both countries would benefit, said Yang. China is committed to make this dream come true, he said.
Last August, the Chinese railway minister had paid inspection visit of the railway from Lhasa to Khasa via Shigatse. He has said that China was positive about connecting the railway up to the border with Nepal.
“We have a plan to connect Khasa,” said Yang. “This is a long-term project.” [Passage omitted]
Source: Kantipur, Kathmandu, in Nepali 5 Jun 05, p 1
