Kyirong to open Trans-Himalayan highway

(TibetanReview.net, Jan28, 2010)  China is spending almost $20m to build just a 17-km (10.5 miles) stretch of road from the Tibetan border town of Kyirong to the Nepalese town of Syabrubesi, reported BBC New online Jan 27. But it's an important investment because this mountain pass not only connects Tibet to Nepal – it's also the most direct land route to India's capital, Delhi, the report added.

The project is designed to turn Kyirong’s ancient trading track into a modern road. Construction work goes on deep in the valleys next to the green, flowing waters of the Kyirong River, with Chinese construction workers blasting through the jagged landscape to build the road.

"There is an old Chinese saying, 'To get rich, build roads first'," the Chinese team's engineer Zhang Peng was quoted as saying. In his view people on both the sides of the border would benefit once the road is built. "Nepalese people will be able to visit Lhasa, in Tibet, and other parts of China, and Chinese tourists and businessmen will come here," he was quoted as saying.

Until now, yaks and mules have been the only way to transport heavy goods across this border area. But once the new road is built, Nepal hopes to open itself up ever more and attract more Chinese investment – and eventually create a trans-Asian highway that will cut through the Himalayas, linking China to India, the report said.