Nepal names Pokhara tourism capital, to urge China to operate more flights

The Pokhara international airport built by China was declared ready for commercial operation in January 2022, but remained unused ever since, as the governments of Nepal and China have conflicted over whether it was a project under the Belt and Road Initiative or not, with Nepal sticking to the latter status.

The announcement coincided with Nepal’s final preparation to secure Chinese aid to build the Nepal-China Industrial Friendship Park in nearly 4,000 acres, with the possibility of it extending to 6,600 acres in east Nepal’s Jhapa along north Bengal border.

The park and a 327-MegaWatt upper Marsyangdi hydroenergy project are likely to be formalised at Kathmandu’s Investment summit on April 29-30, Pradhyunna Upadhyaya, spokesperson of the Nepal Investment Board told The Indian Express.