Kathmandu: The Nepalese government on Friday said that China will allow Nepal the use of four of its ports, as the nation seeks to end India’s monopoly over trading routes. They will do this by increasing connections with Beijing.
Nepal depends heavily on India for the supply of essential goods like fuel and use of India’s ports for trade with other countries.
To reduce this dependence, Nepal sought access to China’s ports, since a prolonged blockage in 2015 and 2016 left Nepal with a shortage in supply of medicines and fuel.
At a meeting held in Kathmandu, officials from Nepal and China finalised an agreement, giving Nepal access to four of China’s ports - Tianjin, Shenzhen, Lianyungang and Zhanjiang.
“This is one of the milestones because we are getting access to four Chinese ports in addition to two ports in India,” Rabi Shankar Sainju, a commerce ministry official, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Sainju added that Nepali cargo from Japan, South Korea and other north Asian countries could be routed through China which would cut shipping time and costs.
China is making fast inroads into Nepal with aid and investment, challenging India’s long-held position as the dominant outside power.
With inputs from Reuters