96% of netizens support Qinghai-Tibet Railway extension to Nepal

It is understood that Nepali prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expressed the hope again that China can extend the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, connecting Beijing and Lhasa, to Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, to promote economic and trade ties between China and Nepal.

Although the India side is unpleased at this, 96 percent of Chinese netizens are in favor of it, according to an online poll launched by Global Times.

In fact, after the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in 2006, Nepal clearly expressed the hope that the railway could be extended to the China-Nepal border.

Recently, at an inaugurating ceremony for a Chinese culture activity chaired by Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, he hoped again that the Qinghai-Tibet Railway can be extended to Kathmandu.

China announced a plan in 2008 to connect Qinghai-Tibet Railway, from Shigatse in Tibet, to Gaze, a border town of Nepal, 20 kilometers north of Kathmandu. In addition, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway extension form Lhasa to Shigatse is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

However, it is not easy to construct a railway from Shigatse to Gaze because the Himalayan Mountains lie between the two countries.

While the Indian side is concerned Nepal's dependence on India will be greatly reduced after the completion of this section of the railway.

Moreover, India has made specific plans to balance China's influence in South Asia. According to a "Hindustan Times" report published on Oct. 14, in response to China's railway transport network in South Asia, India has decided to build six new railways, linking Nepal and Bhutan

While an online survey conducted by Global Times on Wednesday shows the vast majority of Chinese people support the construction of the railway. As of 9:30 pm. of Wednesday, 2,692 netizens cast their votes, 96.4 percent (2,596 votes) agreed to the railway, and only 3.6 percent (96 votes) oppose.

A netizen says it is a "strategic railway" because it concerns China's national defense building. The railway will benefit the people of the two countries and it should be built. China should extend Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Kathmandu despite the cost because the railway will play an invaluable role in politics, economy and military.

China should strengthen cooperation with other neighboring countries because India has been making provocative moves, believes a netizen.

Another netizen says Nepal is involved with India's geopolitical interests and India will not let it go easily, so China and Nepal should have enough political wisdom to cope.

China does not need to care about India's thoughts and feelings, said a netizen. Has India taken into account of the feelings of Chinese people when Indian PM visited southern Tibet?

By People's Daily Online