Source: Xinhua    Published: 2016-12-22

The "One Belt One Road" initiative introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping can play a crucial role in the infrastructure development of Nepal and the entire South Asia region, a Nepalese minister said here Wednesday.

Nepalese Minister for Federal Affairs Hitraj Pandey made the remarks during a meeting with a visiting delegation of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People`s Congress of China, which arrived Wednesday at the invitation of Nepalese Parliament Speaker Onsari Gharti.

"Nepal has already welcomed the `One Belt One Road` initiative introduced by the dynamic Chinese leadership under President Xi Jinping, while we have also become one of the founding members of the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)," the minister said.

"Our government believes that China`s such tremendous initiatives can play crucial role in the infrastructure development in Nepal and the entire South Asia region," he said.

The minister said that Nepal wants to reap benefit from China`s rapid socio-economic development.

"China`s socio-economic, infrastructure and cultural development is role model for the entire world."

Reaffirming Nepal`s long-standing One China Policy, Minister Pandey said that Nepal will not allow any anti-Chinese activities in its territory.

The minister thanked the Tibet Autonomous Region for extending food and agricultural support to various districts of Nepal bordering China and hoped that China`s central government will further help enhance road connectivity in the northern districts of Nepal bordering Tibet.

Head of the Tibetan delegation Padma Choling (Bai Ma Chilin), who is also Chairman of the Standing Committee of Tibet Autonomous Regional People`s Congress, said that China has given top priority to helping develop infrastructure in South Asia under the "One Belt One Road" initiative, as is set out in the 13th five-year development plan.

During the visit, the Tibetan delegation will also hold meetings with Nepal`s Parliament Speaker Onsari Gharti, Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi and Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat.