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Nepal has vast tourism potential: Chinese veep

HONKGONG:  Vice-President of the People´s Republic of China, Li Yuanchao, has said that there is a huge market in China for Nepal´s vast tourism potential.

"Nepal has a world-famous tourism potential, and there is a huge market and production capacity (for it) in China," Li said, addressing the opening ceremony of the 3rd China-Eurasia Expo & the China-Eurasia Economic Development and Cooperation Forum at Urumqi in Xinjiang Province of China on September 2.

Stating that the Himalayas join China to South Asia, the Chinese Vice-president, in his speech, mentioned only Nepal and none of the other countries in the region with regards to tourism.

The latest statement from the Chinese Vice-president hints at the increased flow of Chinese tourists in Nepal in days to come.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal has surged over the recent years. Last year, 85,000 Chinese arrived in the country. Nepal Tourism Board plans to attract 100,000 tourists from China in 2014.

According to the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa, the numbers of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal have increased by 25 percent this year.
During his meeting with former Constitution Assembly chairperson Subas Chandra Nembang on the sidelines of the forum, Li also informed that China will shortly conduct a study on the expansion of railway network in Nepal.

"China wants to establish road and rail linkage with the neighboring countries. We will conduct a study on railway expansion to Nepal shortly," Nembang quoted Li as saying.

Nembang said that he had conveyed to Li the aspiration of the Nepali people for the rail linkage between Lhasa in Tibet to Lumbini in Nepal via Kathmandu.

Li also informed that China wants to link Asia and Europe, which are joined by the historical Silk Road, with railway and road networks.

The Chinese leader also informed that a study is being carried out for the transportation linkage with the Nepal and other European countries to expand tourism and commerce.

Li further opined that along with the economic development there should be an inter-country security cooperation to counter terrorism.

Nepal is among 40 countries that are participating in the forum formed two years ago, which is considered one of the important platforms to enhance economic cooperation between the countries in Asia and Europe.

Other members of the Nepali delegation include Nepali Congress leader Radheshyam Adhikari and General Secretary at Parliament Secretariat Manohar Bhattarai.

source: republica,4 Sept 2013