China plans to build a railway line across Everest

China is set to build a strategic, high-speed 540-kilometer rail line between Tibet and Nepal through a tunnel under Mount Everest, which worries India about the growing influence of China in its vicinity. As a result, it is planned to extend the existing Qinghai-Tibet railway to the border of China and Nepal through Tibet, which will stimulate bilateral trade and tourism.

The railway line is planned to be built by 2020. A railway expert from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said the engineers are facing a number of difficulties in building the tunnel. The line will have to be laid through Chomolungma, for which it is necessary to dig very long tunnels. Mount Chomolungma is the Tibetan name for Mount Everest. With significant height differences, trains on the line will have a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

In addition to this project, China previously announced plans to expand its Tibetan rail network to Bhutan and India. During his recent visit to Nepal, China's foreign minister asked specialists to conduct a feasibility study for the expansion of the railway network in Kathmandu and beyond. Director of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said that the purpose of this railway line is simply to improve the local economy and people's livelihoods. This will increase the volume of bilateral trade, especially agricultural products, will give a powerful impetus to tourism and communication between peoples.

China is pursuing a policy of expanding its ties with Nepal, much to India's chagrin, in an attempt to stem the flow of Tibetans through Nepal. Beijing recently increased its annual aid to Nepal to $ 128 million from the previous $ 24 million.