KATHMANDU, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Nepali lawmakers said here on Friday that Nepal, as a neighbouring country, should take benefit from China's vision for shared prosperity.
They also said that Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day visit to Nepal starting from Saturday is an important opportunity for the Himalayan country to lift the economic partnership between the two nations to a new level so as to achieve economic prosperity.
At an event organized here on significance of Xi's visit to Nepal and Nepal-China partnership for economic development, they said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) initiated by Xi has offered the roadmap for shared prosperity by promoting connectivity and infrastructure development.
Infrastructure and economic development are key emphases of the BRI, said Dev Gurung, lawmaker from the ruling Nepal Communist Party. "Nepal's roadmap to achieve economic prosperity and development has similarities with China's vision. This has strengthened the possibility of partnership between Nepal and China."
Gurung also refuted the critics about the so-called debt trap from Chinese loans, saying the loans could be instrumental for economic development provided it is used properly.
"There is no country in the world which has not taken loans, but the question is how to better utilize them," he said at the event organized by Nepal China Himalayan Friendship Society.
During discussions, speakers said that Nepal should take independent decision on economic cooperation with China amid western country's warning about what they claimed "debt trap" from China.
Nepal has aimed to transform the country into a middle income country by 2030 from the current low income country. To achieve this goal, huge investment in infrastructure will be needed. Gurung said that the BRI could be helpful for getting much needed investment and achieving prosperity.
Another lawmaker Subhas Chandra Nembang, who is also a former speaker of Nepal's parliament, said Nepal should take the opportunity of Xi's visit to enhance connectivity between the two countries, which could bring huge benefit to Nepal as well as China and India.
The two neighbours have already agreed to enhance connectivity encompassing vital components such as ports, roads, railways, aviation and communications within the framework of Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network.
"Enhanced connectivity with China will also transform Nepal into a land-linked country from current land-locked country," Nembang said.
