Gauging Nepal’s Endeavors to Materialize Trilaterialism through China-led BRI


Type
Article
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Authors
BHATTARAI, Gaurav 
Abstract

This article aims to assess whether China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides an opportunity for Nepal to bridge its immediate neighbors, India to the South and China to the North. Analyzing policy coordination, connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds as the five pillars of BRI, this article attempts to discover whether they will be of any help to Nepal in materializing Trilaterialism, against which India has reservations. But, for Nepal, BRI is the best opportunity not only to diversify her trade, but also to get closely connected with the global value chain. Deeming geopolitical vulnerabilities as the major challenges to Trilateralism, this article recommends to take India into confidence by convincing the southern neighbor that BRI for Nepal is not a strategic partnership with China against India, but solely a resultant of Nepal’s aspirations for infrastructure-driven development and growth-oriented prosperity.

Description
Keywords
BRI, China, Nepal, India, Trilaterialism
Journal Title
Cambridge Journal of China Studies
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
15
Publisher
Cambridge Journal of China Studies
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