China has signed several agreements with Nepal Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli to launch new infrastructure linkages, and take up several other construction projects in the Himalayan country nearly one year after it was hit by a devastating earthquake.
Nepal received strong support from China after it was hit by a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which killed 8,000 people in April last year.
In his talks with Chinese leaders, Oli sought assistance for repairs of the Dhulekhel-Tatopani section of the Araniko Highway, which has been damaged by the earthquake, and support to expand its width for heavy trucks to carry petroleum products from Shigatse in Tibet.
Chinese and Nepali officials are also discussing a plan to reopen the Tatopani-Khasa route connecting the two countries after building the necessary support infrastructure on both sides of the border. This route was closed by earthquake damage.
Japan also has also come forward. The Japan International Cooperation Agency completed repairs last December of the Sindhuli Road (BP Highway), which was damaged in 29 different sections in the April 25 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.