Xi will be the first Chinese president to visit Nepal in 22 years and will arrive from India, where he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Landlocked Nepal, a natural buffer between India and China, has been trying to lessen its dependence on New Delhi. The link will be part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Xi's signature project that Nepal joined in 2017. Nepal sees the rail link with China as an alternative to its dependence on India. Asian giants India and China have both sought to woo Nepal and have poured in aid and infrastructure investment.

Source: bd News24 October 12, 2019 07:41 UTC